(Juhi Aishwary, Journalist): NIA will investigate the case of gold smuggling in diplomatic bags in Kerala. The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the NIA to start its investigation. Kerala Chief Minister P Vijayan had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday requesting the central agency to investigate the matter. The opposition is demanding the chief minister’s resignation after his close proximity to ruling Left leaders, including Vijayan of Swapna Suresh, the main suspect in the case.
According to the Home Ministry spokesperson, the matter of importing gold in diplomatic bags in Kerala can be serious in terms of national security. In view of this, it was decided to investigate it with the NIA. The NIA is the specialized agency for the investigation of terrorism-related to terrorism and national security. It is believed that the NIA will start its investigation after registering an FIR in the case on Friday. The case relates to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) receiving 30 kg of gold worth Rs 15 crore in a diplomatic bag sent to the consulate in Kerala.
According to the Customs Department, Swapna Suresh, who is working as a consultant in a firm attached to the IT department of the state government, has a central role in it as she was trying to get information about this diplomatic bag from the Customs Department. Kerala Chief Secretary M Shivshankar has been removed from the post after the matter opened. It is being told that senior officials of the Chief Minister’s Office and the government were pressurizing the officers of the Customs to crack down the whole matter.
Other central agencies have also stepped up action in the gold smuggling case in the name of a foreign diplomat. The agencies have sought cooperation from the state police to locate Swapna, an absconding accused and former employee of the Information and Technology (IT) department of Kerala, while Swapna has filed an application in the Kerala High Court for anticipatory bail. On the other hand, the Congress also held a statewide demonstration on Thursday and sought the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Sources said that the central agencies had written a letter to the Kerala Police seeking technical assistance to keep an eye on the dream and his close relatives. On the other hand, in the online application filed in the High Court through advocate Rajesh Kumar TK, Swapna said, ‘The acting Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rashid Khamis Al Shimili has given the petitioner on June 30 in his baggage via cargo He was instructed to find out the reasons for the delay.
The next day also he directed to contact the officials of the Customs Department. Swapna, while discharging her official duties, approached the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and inquired about the goods. The petitioner has no connection with gold smuggling. ‘
On the other hand, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said, ‘The Chief Minister, who tried to save the former Principal Secretary accused of supporting the smugglers, has no right to continue in the post. He and his government should resign. Kerala BJP chief K.K. Surendran said that Vijayan is fooling the people of the state. However, he declined to comment on the issue of the absconding woman’s connection to the BJP.
Party Spokesperson B.R. Gopalakrishnan said that Congress leader KC Venugopal had recommended the woman’s name for the job at the foreign embassy. Last day, CM Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding intervention in the effective investigation of the case. On July 5, the Customs Department seized 30 kilograms of gold at the Thiruvananthapuram airport along with the goods that arrived via air cargo in the name of the diplomat. Saarith, an alleged former employee of the UAE Consulate General, has been arrested in this case. Chief Minister and IT department secretary M. Shivshankar has been removed from both posts.
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