In connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched four locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and confiscated gold and assets worth Rs. 1.13 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Monday that following recent searches related to the alleged smuggling of gold into Kerala through diplomatic luggage, it has confiscated seven immovable properties worth Rs. 1.13 crore and gold worth Rs. 27.65 lakh.
According to the federal investigation agency, on April 13, searches were conducted at four locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu that belonged to Nandu alias Nandagopal, the owner of KGN Bullion, Samju TM, and his father-in-law Shamsudheen.
ED’s statement and action
Seven immovable assets totaling Rs. 1.13 crore and gold worth Rs. 27.65 lakh, according to the ED, were found and seized during these searches.
Samju TM stated in his statement that he had bought 4,500 grams of illegal gold from Mohammed Shafi (a smuggler), which was thereafter sold to end clients through the shop of his father-in-law, the agency claimed.
In response to the seizure of 30.245 kgs of smuggled gold by Customs (Preventive) at Trivandrum International Airport, which was disguised as diplomatic luggage of the UAE Consulate, Thiruvananthapuram, the ED sprang into action and filed a FIR with the NIA to investigate the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case.
ED Arrested
The ED detained the suspects Sarith PS, Swapna Prabha Suresh, and Sandeep Nair on July 22, 2020.
Together with M Sivasankar, a former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former workers of the UAE embassy in Kerala, Swapna Suresh and Sarith PS were the main suspects in this case. Sandeep Nair was also detained by the ED.
In accordance with the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency filed a charge sheet against them, which was followed by an additional prosecution case.
Sarith P. S.’s crime-related earnings and Smt. Swapna Suresh out of the smuggling of gold and commission received was revealed during the ongoing investigation relating to the seizure of smuggled gold by the customs when it was discovered that Rs 14.98 lakhs were given by Sarith P. S. to his cousin Akhil S. for keeping in safe custody.
Accused statement
The primary suspect in the Kerala gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh, has applauded the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) move against M Sivasankar, an aide to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In connection with the Life Mission fraud, the central investigative agency apprehended the CM’s assistant on Wednesday.
Sivasankar was allegedly involved in the alleged scam, according to Sarith PS and Swapna Suresh, two other accused in the case. In order to transform it into a scam, M Sivasankar allegedly helped Swapna Suresh, who spoke to news agency ANI on Wednesday, complete all administrative paperwork. Additionally, she offered her assistance to the ED and requested that they speak with other CM Pinarayi Vijayan workers who “manage his criminal job.
She claimed that the entire family of the chief minister was complicit in the scheme and that they were “stealing money from the regular people under the guise of new projects.”
Kerala High Court’s Action
A conspiracy case filed against Swapna Suresh and Vijesh Pillai in a case of gold smuggling was postponed by the Kerala High Court.
The Taliparamba police in the Kannur district filed the complaint against them for allegedly plotting a conspiracy and making false accusations on Facebook against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his family and MV Govindan, state secretary of the CPC (M).
