Kerala: Smuggled gold meant for terror activities, says NIA

KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency, probing the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case, on Monday submitted in the special court that the smuggled gold was meant for “terrorism purposes” and not jewellers. The ministry of home affairs had, while allowing the agency to probe the case, also said its initial enquiries had revealed that the proceeds of the smuggled gold could be used for financing terrorism.
The court sent accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair – the accused in the smuggling of 30kg gold through the diplomatic channel – to NIA custody for seven days. In a related development, the additional chief judicial magistrate court (economic offences) in Kochi remanded K T Ramees of Malappuram, suspected to be a buyer and financier in the smuggling racket, in judicial custody till July 27.
The NIA submitted in the special court that a detailed probe was required as the smuggling activity could affect the India-UAE relationship and the UAE had also probed the incident. Preliminary enquiries about the destination of consignments smuggled earlier also pointed at the terror angle, it said.
UAE emblems and seals forged
Its counsel Arjun Ambalapatta submitted that two of the main accused, Swapna and Sarith, were ex-employees at the consulate and they knew the functioning of the diplomatic channel. The racket forged emblems and seals of the UAE consulate to smuggle gold.
The court had taken up the NIA petition after the Covid-19 test results of the accused came negative. On Monday morning, it decided to hear the custody application filed by the agency in the presence of the accused and they were brought to the court from the Covid care centres. Swapna was brought to the court around 3pm and Sandeep around 3.30pm.
The agency also moved the court for correcting the name of the third accused from Fazil to Faizal and his address as Thaiparambil House, Puthampalli, Kaipamangalam, Thrissur. It moved a petition to issue a non-bailable warrant against him so that a Blue notice -- an Interpol notice to collect additional information about a person in relation to a crime from member countries -- can be issued.
The court asked the accused if they wanted to state anything. Swapna, who was visibly shivering in the court, requested that medical treatment be provided to her. Sandeep, however, told the court that the cargo came for a person named Rashed at the consulate and it can be brought through the channel only by using a copy of his passport and diplomatic ID. He asked why the investigation was not covering this person and another clearing agent who was involved.
The NIA, meanwhile, has recovered a bag from the possession of Sandeep, about which it said it would be opened in the presence of the judge later. As per the order issued by judge P Krishna Kumar allowing custody to NIA, there shall be a break for one hour if the interrogation continues for three hours at a stretch. The accused persons should be given liberty to contact their lawyers as well, it said.