The ED is exploring the possibility of seeking legal recourse against what officials believe to be a brazen attempt to cast aspersions on the agency’s integrity and hobble the prosecutorial process consequently. The ED suspected that a website with a pronounced political bias had released the voice recording initially. The ED was also probing the suspected “kickbacks in the various infrastructure contracts” being implemented by the State government. Sources pointed out that Swapna was the prime accused in the gold smuggling related money laundering case. Legally, it was inexpedient for the ED to make her an approver in the case, officials pointed out.

Source: The Hindu November 20, 2020 14:22 UTC