City
Epaper

There is no political interference in Kerala gold smuggling case: Special NIA court

By ANI | Updated: August 10, 2020 14:10 IST

A special NIA court in Kochi on Monday noted that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking a probe into the Kerala gold smuggling case by investigation agencies is proof that there is no political interference in the matter.

Open in App

A special NIA court in Kochi on Monday noted that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking a probe into the Kerala gold smuggling case by investigation agencies is proof that there is no political interference in the matter.

The court made the observations while dismissing the bail plea of Swapna Suresh, a key accused in the high-profile Kerala gold smuggling case, who had claimed that she was innocent.

"The Kerala Chief Minister had written to the Prime Minister on July 8 seeking an investigation in the Kerala gold smuggling case by the investigative agencies in the country. This is proof that there is no political interference in the case," the court held.

On the basis of the evidence and case diary, the court noted that there is prima facie evidence that Swapna Suresh was involved in the smuggling of gold in Kerala.

"It is prima facie clear that the crime was committed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. There is also evidence that Swapna Suresh interfered on the release of cargo. Terrorist activities also include gold smuggling," it observed.

The court noted that that there is evidence in the case diary that gold was smuggled several times in diplomatic baggage and that the accused knew that this was a threat to the economic security of the country.

Meanwhile, an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) court has also reserved its order on another bail plea filed by Swapna Suresh in a case being probed by the Customs department.

The matter, which pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels, had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores, allegedly smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage, was busted by customs in Thiruvananthapuram.

( With inputs from ANI )

Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalUSD 87 Million allocated for projects to reduce greenhouse emissions

InternationalTurkmenistan hosts UN conference on landlocked developing countries

International"No tariff wars or sanctions can halt natural course of history": Russian Foreign Ministry

CricketWe'll never surrender: Gautam Gambhir gets emotional as India win Oval Test

Cricket"One of the memorable wins": Jwala Singh as India clinch Oval Test; draw series 2-2

National Realted Stories

NationalKarti Chidambaram backs India's firm rebuttal to Trump's tariff move

NationalOdisha to set up 835 model primary schools in first phase of flagship scheme

NationalHow US encouraged India to buy Russian oil to stabilise global energy markets

NationalDelhi Crime: Girl Shot Dead Inside Doctor’s Clinic in Jahangirpuri; Attacker on the Run

NationalCong's Manish Tewari invokes 1971 to counter US tariff move on India