IT@School project has links with gold smugglers, CM supports them: Chennithala

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that underworld activities are taking place at the office of the chief minister. In a press conference held here, he added that the report of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has proved wrong the claims of the chief minister that his office has no connection with the gold smuggling case.

The IT@School project which was implemented grandly by the government also has links with the gold smugglers. The quality of the equipment distributed at schools should be examined as many complaints arose regarding it, Chennithala said.

Swapna Suresh told the ED that the chief minister's former principal secretary and some others in the office were aware that gold was smuggled through diplomatic channel. The CM has no rights to continue in the position. Only corruption and black money deals take place in the chief minister's office, Chennithala added.

The ED noted that the Rs 1 crore which Khalid, an employee at the UAE Consulate, gave Swapna was the bribe for Sivasankar. A person like Sivasankar who is supposed to keep the trust of the public is involved in the act and it is a serious matter, he said.

All government projects are under suspicion. The ED report submitted in the court proves this. But the chief minister is defending all allegations using the party, Chennithala stated.