Congress welcomes NIA probe in Kerala gold smuggling case; demands involvement of CBI, RAW

After Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) permitted NIA to probe in Kerala gold smuggling case on Thursday, state Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran welcomed decision. He appealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Central government should also rope in CBI and RAW, in addition to NIA, for investigation in case.

'It is a matter of national security'

"I welcome NIA probe in gold smuggling case. I had written to Prime Minister demanding an NIA probe. However, Prime Minister and Central government should also anunce a CBI and RAW investigations in addition to NIA investigation," he said. He said that re is a huge racket behind gold smuggling.

"Some of officials, including those in customs, are associated with this racket. It is a matter of national security and friendly relations with UAE which requires high priority," he said. state Congress chief said that a parallel ecomy that was destroying India's ecomy could t be allowed to grow under shadow of gold smuggling gang.

gold weighing over 30 kg was seized from bagg, carrying name of a diplomatic person, that had landed by air cargo at Thiruvananthapuram international airport recently.  Customs department has said that it suspected a smuggling syndicate had misused name of a person in United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate who enjoys diplomatic immunity.

READ | Gold smuggling case: Accused Swapna Suresh moves Kerala High Court to seek bail

Key accused sent to custody

anticipatory bail plea of Swapna Suresh who is on run since being sacked from contractual service in state IT department after her name cropped up in smuggling case, is expected to come up before High Court on Friday. woman and an alleged accomplice of her are absconding even as an audio clip in which she purportedly claims incence surfaced.

READ | Kerala Gold Smuggling: MHA permits NIA probe, cites 'implications for national security'

In a related legal development, consulate's or former employee, R Sarith Kumar, who has been arrested in case, was produced before ecomic offences court in Kochi and sent to customs department custody for furr probe.  state government has removed senior IAS officer M Sivasankar, who was secretary to Chief Minister and IT Principal secretary, following allegations that he had close links with woman suspect in case. official has gone on a year's leave.

READ | Kerala Gold Smuggling: MEA issues statement, CM Vijayan brushes off resignation demand

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(With ncy inputs)