Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: 2 Key Accused Taken Into Custody From Bengaluru

Thiruvananthapuram:

Two key accused within the smuggling of 30 kg gold by way of diplomatic channel in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram have been taken into custody from Bengaluru by the National Investigation Agency.

Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair had been lacking since their names cropped up within the case. Another accused, Sarith, has already been arrested by the Customs (Preventive) Department.

The NIA had on Friday registered the FIR beneath the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and mentioned it has taken up the probe because the case has worldwide linkages and because the preliminary inquiries have revealed the proceeds of the smuggled gold could possibly be used for financing terrorism in India.

The accused named within the case are Sarith, Swapna Prabha Suresh, Fazil Fareed and Sandeep Nair.

Opposition chief in Kerala, Ramesh Chennithala, has alleged that the accused was helped by the state police.

“How can Swapna Suresh reach Bengaluru when there is a triple lockdown under way in Thiruvananthapuram city? It is evident that the police helped her,” Mr Chennithala alleged.

BJP state president Okay Surendran has raised the same allegation. He tweeted:

The NIA has arrested Swapna Suresh in file time, inside two days of begining the investigation. But who helped Swapna Suresh to flee Trivandrum which is in Tripple lock down. @vijayanpinarayi who additionally handles the house portfolio has so much to reply. pic.twitter.com/t7inkrplMy

— Okay Surendran (@surendranbjp) July 11, 2020

The gold valued at round Rs 15 crore was seized by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi. Swapna Suresh, Sarith and Sandeep Nair of Thiruvananthapuram and Fazil Fareed of Ernakulam have been listed within the smuggling case as accused.

Ms Suresh is a former worker of the UAE consulate and a former advertising and marketing officer of a agency linked to Kerala’s data expertise division. The Chief Minister’s Office mentioned her contract was terminated after the intense allegations surfaced.

The opposition has alleged the accused has hyperlinks with the Chief Minister’s Office, and that they had been makes an attempt to protect her. The Chief Minister has denied this. An IAS officer has been faraway from the Chief Minister’s Office and changed as IT secretary amid protests by the opposition.

“From the evidence gathered so far it appears that Ms Swapna Suresh is a pivotal member of a gang engaged in smuggling of large quantities of gold to India by defrauding government agencies and customs department by using the cover of diplomatic protection and further she has conspired and actively participated to facilitate the act of smuggling,” the customs division mentioned in a report submitted to the court docket.

The customs alleged that officers began checking the bags at 1 pm on July 5 and Ms Suresh switched off her cellphone by 3.15 pm. The report mentioned she is on the run and is avoiding summons to evade the probe.

The spouse of Sandeep Nair – the opposite accused taken into custody has n her assertion to Customs had mentioned that her husband used to “smuggle gold with the help of Sarith and Swapna”. She alleged they’d achieve this for different gangs as properly.

“Ms Swapna would arrange papers for getting cargo of the consulate cleared from the air cargo complex,” Mr Nair’s spouse has mentioned.

Sandeep Nair’s dwelling was being raided by officers of Customs Department at Aruvikkara, information company ANI reported.