National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the smuggling of gold through diplomatic channel stated that smuggled gold was not directed towards jewellery but for terrorist activities.
In the earlier FIR filed by the NIA, the agency has mentioned that the gold that was smuggled could have been used for terrorist activities.
The NIA court sent accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair to NIA custody till July 21.
The counsel submitted that gold was smuggled through the diplomatic channel by the accused. Both Swapna and Sandeep were employees of UAE consulate and resigned due to unknown reasons. However, they came to know about the movement of diplomatic baggage while working at the consulate.
Later, both of them conspired with other accused and started smuggling gold since 2019. In previous attempts through the same channel, they smuggled nine and eighteen kilograms of gold during two occasions through the diplomatic route. They forged the emblem of the UAE consulate to send gold consignment.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his press conference hailed the NIA and stated that agency is a competent agency and that the government ensure all the assistance will be provided to the NIA.
“If there are higher-ups in the government or bureaucracy let that come out and that be exposed to the public. If the probe reaches my office, let that happen and I am not worried about that”, said CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
According to NIA, the Ministry of Home Affairs conducted an initial probe and found that smuggled gold is used for terrorist activities. NIA submitted that some of the gold consignment smuggled by the accused persons was not directed to jewellery but for terrorism purpose. NIA advocate claimed that a detailed probe is required as the relationship between India and UAE will be hit. UAE also had conducted a probe into the incident.
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