The Enforcement Directorate(ED) has arrested Shivshankar and Bineesh in money laundering cases related to gold smuggling and drug trafficking respectively.

The twin arrests have pushed the LDF Government totally into the defensive. Of course, the Chief Minister and other PI(M) leaders say the Government cannot be blamed for the misconduct of a bureaucrat in personal capacity. The Government, the CM said, had acted against Shivashankar when his links with the key accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh came to light by relieving him of his posts and suspending him.

But, a jubilant opposition has promptly moved in for the ‘kill’ sensing victory of its campaign against the Government. Both the Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) and the BJP have sought the resignation of the CM. The Opposition has also decided to intensify its campaign to that end.

Significantly, the Kerala High Court had observed while dismissing the anticipatory bail petition of Shivshankar that though the ED has not collected sufficient evidence to make him an accused, his detention is necessary for further interrogation. It was clear, the court observed, that he was very close to Swapna.

In its report filed by the ED, the agency had said that Shivshankar had admitted to have spoken to a senior customs officer to clear the diplomatic baggage containing the smuggled gold.

Shivshankar has, however, denied it. In his defence, he said the ED has a theory and it wants him to admit to that. That is not possible, he added.

Significantly, neither the National Investigating Agency (NIA) nor the Customs Department have said that Shivshankar had intervened to get the baggage cleared. In fact, the NIA report mentioned that he had refused to intervene despite Swapna’s request to do that.

ED, however, claims to be in possession of WhatsApp messages between Shivshankar and Swapna which indicate that he did intervene in the issue. According to ED, the Rs 1 crore seized from Swapna’s bank locker – a joint locker of Swapna and Shivshankar’s chartered account- was “the proceeds of crime” and Shivshankar had helped her in hiding and using it. Shivshankar’s CA agreed to open the locker after he was told to do so by the senior IAS officer. ED is said to be in possession of WhatsApp chat between Shivshankar and the CA in which the latter agreed to open the locker.

On his part, P. Vijayabhanu, senior counsel who appeared for Shivshankar has made a highly significant statement. He said the conversations between his client and the CA had takenplace eight to 12 months before the alleged act of smuggling. He further said Shivshankar’s conversation with Swapna and the CA is being misrepresented to implicate his client in the heinous crime of gold smuggling. Shivshankar has since been remanded to ED’s custody for one week.

As for Bineesh Kodiyeri, he was arrested for funding a drug racket. ED nabbed him after collecting evidence of alleged financial dealings between him and one Mohammed Anoop, who was earlier arrested in a narcotics seizure case. Bineesh was sent to ED custody for four days.

The twin arrests have put both Pinarayi and Kodiyeri under tremendous pressure. Kodiyeri is on record that neither the party nor the Government would intervene to help his son. He will have to face the consequences of his action, Kodiyeri has added. Of course, he has the full backing of the Kerala CPI(M).

But the Government and the CM will find it extremely hard to explain the conduct of Shivshankar and Bineesh.

Unfortunately, the arrests have come at a time when the Government is getting ready to face two crucial elections: the local bodies polls in November end or December and the Assembly elections in May 2021. The arrests are bound to have some impact on the outcome of the polls. How the Government and the LDF will weather the political storm will be watched keenly. Tough days are ahead for the Pinarayi Vijayan Government. That is for sure.
(IPA Service)