Fire at Secretariat: Kerala govt constitutes probe panel; findings likely within a week

On Wednesday, Kerala government constituted a multi-departmental committee to inquire into technical causes of fire which broke out at state secretariat. Claiming that fire was coincidence, opposition alleged that files pertaining to Kerala gold smuggling case were destroyed in fire. To be heed by Disaster Manment Commissioner Dr. A Kowsigan, probe committee's or members are KSDMA Secretary Sekhar Kuriakose, Fire and Services Director (Technical) ush, PWD Chief Electrical Engineer Koshy John and Power Department Chief Electrical Engineer Anil Kumar.

inquiry committee will focus on ascertaining probable cause of fire and quantum of losses including destruction of physical files. It shall also give a prima facie finding on possibility of sabot and steps to be taken for preventing such instances in future. committee has been directed to submit its report to Chief Secretary within a week.

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Fire breaks out at Secretariat

At around 4.30 pm on Tuesday, a fire was reported on second floor of rth Sandwich Block in Kerala Secretariat which houses  General ministrative (Political) and Tourism departments. This section handles many sensitive files including ones related to UAE Consulate, Swapna Suresh, and suspended bureaucrat M Sivasankar. fire which was first detected in one of computers soon engulfed a portion of office. In a fortunate development, only two employees were present in office due to COVID-19 related restrictions. Within a span of 15 minutes, fire was doused with help of Fire and Rescue Department.

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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 w working as  manr of  Kerala State Information Techlogy Infrastructure Limited. Following backlash over her appointment, she was sacked by state government.

NIA has alrey filed 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 purpose but for funding terror activities. Meanwhile,  ED registered a money laundering case in Kerala gold smuggling scandal on July 23. central ncy is likely to probe if proceeds of crime were generated by accused for laundering of funds that were earned through gold smuggling racket. 

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