Kerala gold smuggling: Court asks NIA to substantiate evidence, hints at granting bail

On Monday,  NIA court in Kochi issued an ultimatum to ncy directing it to produce evidence against accused in Kerala gold smuggling case. court warned NIA that it may grant bail to some of accused persons if ncy fails to substantiate charges against m. Hearing bail petitions filed by accused, NIA was directed to t only produce case diary on Tuesday but also submit list of people who profited from gold smuggling operation. 

After NIA took over case, it registered an FIR against Sarith Kumar, Swapna Suresh, Fazil Fareed, Sandeep Nair, and ors. Various sections of  UAPA were slapped against aforesaid individuals. NIA has alleged that smuggled gold was t used for jewellery purposes but for funding terror activities. In a major breakthrough earlier, Nair agreed to become an approver in case. 

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What is Kerala 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 was arrested in this regard. Reportedly, he told Customs about role of Swapna Suresh, an ex-Consulate employee working as operations manr of  Kerala State Information Techlogy Infrastructure Limited.

case took a political turn after photos with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan surfaced. It has been alleged that Suresh has links with CM and has been seen with him at parties when she was working at UAE Consulate. Following backlash over her appointment, she was sacked by state government. On July 16, Vijayan anunced that  suspension of his former Principal Secretary M Sivasankar pending departmental inquiry. It was reportedly found that he h violated All-India Services Conduct rules due to his connections with gold smuggling accused. 

Earlier in day, Suresh was granted bail by Ecomic Offences Court in Kochi in case filed by Customs department. She secured bail because of failure of Customs to file a charge sheet in 60 days. However, she will continue to remain in jail as owing to NIA case against her.

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