Post quizzing, Opposition asks speaker Sreeramakrishnan to give up

By Express News Service
KOCHI/T’PURAM: The revelation that the customs interrogated Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan in reference to the greenback smuggling case had the Opposition up in arms on Saturday, with the leaders demanding his speedy resignation. Alleging it was for the primary time within the state’s historical past that an meeting speaker has needed to face such severe allegations, Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran mentioned it was extremely inappropriate for Sreeramakrishnan to proceed in his place.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala too got here down closely on the speaker, urging him to step down and publicly reveal the main points of the interrogation. After the speaker twice failed to seem for interrogation citing medical causes, the customs questioned him at his official residence for 5 hours on Friday.

Customs inspects speaker’s Tvm flat

“As the process could not be completed, he has been directed to appear before the agency again. We will issue another notice to him soon,” an official mentioned. Later, officers additionally inspected his flat at Marutham Royal Wings in Chacka close to the airport. The speaker’s workplace, in a press launch, confirmed the interrogation and acknowledged the company arrived at his residence after in search of his comfort. The speaker had earlier mentioned he was prepared to present a proof on all allegations in opposition to him, the assertion mentioned.

Though Sreeramakrishnan had taken to Facebook on Friday night to disclaim stories of him making an attempt suicide, he didn’t point out the interrogation. Later, whereas inspecting the speaker’s flat, customs officers spoke to his neighbours and picked up particulars of people that had visited the flat. They additionally seized a tough disk containing CCTV footage over the previous yr.

The officers might search the condo as soon as once more, a supply mentioned. The inspection, which lasted for greater than two hours, was carried out within the wake of statements made by gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh and Sarith P S. Sarith had acknowledged that the speaker contacted him and Swapna and invited them to his flat in Thiruvananthapuram, the place he gave them a bag containing cash at hand over to the UAE consul basic. Swapna, who additionally named Sreeramakrishnan in her assertion, mentioned he had shared along with her his plans to begin a Middle East College in Sharjah.