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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday asked the Centre to order a probe in the case of gold smuggling, through diplomatic baggage in Kerala, by all central agencies concerned. In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the CM assured all possible help by the state government.
Image Courtesy Zee News
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday asked the Centre to order a probe in the case of gold smuggling, through diplomatic baggage in Kerala, by all central agencies concerned. In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the CM assured all possible help by the state government.
“I invite your kind attention to the seizure of about 30 Kg of gold by the Customs Officials Trivandrum International Airport on July 5, 2020. The fact that the attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of gold was concealed in diplomatic baggage makes the matter extremely serious,” said the letter.
“It is learnt that customs officials are conducting an inquiry into the incident. The case has serious implications as this undermines the economy of the nation. In fact, it has more than one angle warranting a thorough investigation,” the letter added.
The Kerala CM also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “In this regard, I have addressed a letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister requesting an effective and coordinated investigation into this incident. I have assured the Hon’ble Prime Minister that the State Government will provide all necessary assistance and support to the agencies involved in the investigation. A copy of the letter is enclosed for your kind perusal and necessary action,” stated the letter.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has said that the gold smuggling case is being viewed seriously with utmost attention by the Central government and assured that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
“The smuggling issue that has come up in Thiruvananthapuram using the guise of UAE Consulate is being viewed seriously with utmost attention by the Government of India. The government has taken the required steps to find out the culprits. Everyone who is associated with this crime will be brought to book. Nobody should have any doubt about it,” news agency ANI quoted Muraleedharan.
“My point is that the person who was behind it and who was supposed to be the carrier was an employee of the Kerala government, in the IT Ministry, which is directly under the charge of the Kerala CM,” ANI quoted him. The Union Minister further questioned the appointment of the accused in the IT department of the state. “A person who was accused in a case and who is being investigated by the Crime Branch, Kerala police gets appointed to the Kerala government`s IT department. It is said that she was on a contractual appointment, but the clout she enjoyed in Trivandrum, the role she played in various government functions is beyond her announced designations and beyond her official profile,” Muraleedharan said.
The Union Minister also said that the contacts she maintained with senior leaders within the government and the ruling party have already been clarified by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the state. “The role played by Principal Secretary of the Kerala CM, the role played by him is ample evidence that there are efforts to protect such characters. The CM should, therefore, clarify and clear the cobwebs surrounding this related to the state government,” he further said.
Sarith Kumar, a former PRO at the consulate and one Swapna Suresh, working with Kerala govt IT Company were involved in the gold smuggling racket. A major political row has broken in Kerala after customs seized the diplomatic baggage containing gold worth crores a few days ago.
Swapna Suresh was working as a manager at the Kerala State Information technology infrastructure limited company and was hired by IAS official M Sivasankar. Sivasankar, principal secretary to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has been now removed and has been replaced by Mir Muhammad Ali. The opposition in the state is now seeking a wider probe into the matter.
News Credit Zee News