Kerala gold smuggling case: NIA arrests four more people, Swapna Suresh sent to ED custody

Cracking down on gold smuggling in Kerala, on Thursday, National Investigation ncy (NIA) arrested 4 more accused  -  Mohamed Anwar, Hamzath Abdu Salam, Samju, and Hamj Ali. During custodial interrogation of earlier arrested accused, it was revealed that se 4 provided funds for procuring and smuggling gold into India. Searches have been carried out at ir houses at 6 locations in Malappuram & Kozhikode on Friday. So far, NIA has arrested 20 accused in connection with case.

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Swapna Suresh & 3 ors sent to ED custody

Earlier in day, a Kochi court sent three key accused — Swapna Suresh, Sarith PS, and Sandeep Nair — to custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED). It directed ED to conduct interrogation of Swapna Suresh should take place from 10 am to 5 pm and ted that it will take action if accused faces mental torture in custody. A Kochi court h just a day earlier dismissed bail petition of Swapna Suresh in connection with a case being probed by Customs Department.

Kerala gold smuggling: Swapna's bail plea rejected; Customs Dept gives strong evidence

What is gold smuggling case?

On July 5, Customs officials seized 30 kg of gold worth Rs.15 crore at Thiruvananthapuram Airport from a diplomatic cargo dressed to a person in UAE Consulate. Sarith Kumar, who worked at UAE Consulate and was arrested, told Customs about role of Swapna Suresh, an ex-Consulate employee working as manr of Kerala State Information Techlogy Infrastructure Limited. NIA which took over case on July 9 confiscated a bag containing documents of dubious financial dealings while arresting Suresh and Nair. Moreover, various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against accused — Sarith Kumar, Swapna Suresh, Fazil Fareed, Sandeep Nair — in case.

Kerala gold smuggling case: Sarith PS, Swapna Suresh, Sandeep Nair sent to ED custody

case took a political turn after photos of Suresh with CM  Pinarayi Vijayan surfaced allegedly attending several parties where he was present. Moreover, Principal Secretary to CM M Sivasankar has been replaced after his role in hiring Suresh and his contact with her came under probe. Police have submitted a report to NIA, highlighting that over 100 kgs of gold have been smuggled in and out of India along with Rs 1000 crore of hawala transactions in past one year with Koduvally area of Kozhikode district as 'hub of smuggling'. 

Kerala gold smuggling: NIA seizes 982 gms gold, Rs 1 cr from Swapna Suresh's bank accounts