Kerala gold smuggling case accused releases audio clip, govt shunts out vigilance bureau head

As the controversy rattled Kerala, the state government removed Additional Director General of Police M R Ajith Kumar as head of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) after it was found that he was in constant touch with Kiran. Suresh had alleged that Kiran was forcing her to withdraw her statement to a Kochi court in a money laundering case, saying that he had spoken to top IPS officers in the state to settle the issue.

Suresh, who is back in the limelight after she accused the chief minister earlier this week of taking a bag full of currency to the UAE in 2016, released the clip in Palakkad. Suresh had named Vijayan’s wife Kamala and their daughter Veena and alleged that they too were involved in the smuggling.

Suresh said that she was facing a threat to her life and alleged that Kiran exerted pressure on her to retract her allegations against Vijayan and others. Kiran allegedly claimed that he was in touch with ADGP Kumar and ADGP (Law and Order) Vijay Sakhare to settle the issue. Although Sakhare denied his involvement, Kumar was silent over the matter.