Kerala gold smuggling: Accused Swapna Suresh seeks bail; hearing likely on July 24

Swapna Suresh, a key accused in Kerala gold smuggling case approached special NIA court for seeking bail. Earlier in day, she along with co-accused Sandeep Nair was remanded to NIA custody for three more days. In her petition, Suresh claimed that she was falsely implicated in case. Alleging that she was being me a scapegoat in case because of political rivalry between state government and Centre, Suresh argued that she cant be booked under  Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

She buttressed her point by citing lack of strong evidence of terror angle and said that it was "cooked up". Moreover, Suresh observed that she was working for UAE Consulate on "work on request basis" having served as secretary of UAE's Consul General in past. key accused ded that she would available for investigation at any time during her bail period. Her bail plea is expected to be heard on July 24. 

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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.

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 Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling accused. M

A day later, a special NIA court remanded Sarith Kumar, prime accused in Kerala gold smuggling case to NIA custody for 7 days. 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 purpose but for funding terror activities. Meanwhile, Congress party t only decided to move a -confidence motion against Left Front government but also demanded resignation of Kerala CM. 

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