Gold Smuggling Case: Kerala HC Grants Bail To Swapna Suresh & Seven Other Accused

Besides Swapna, the high court also granted bail to seven other accused in the case registered by NIA on their appeals

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Chennai: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted bail to prime accused Swapna Suresh in the Kerala gold smuggling case, after almost 16 months.

Meanwhile, the high court also granted bail to seven other accused - Sarith PS, Mohammed Shafi P, Jalal AM, Rabins Hameed, Ramees KT, Sharafudeen KT and Mohammad Ali - in the case registered by NIA on their appeals.

Kerala Gold Smuggling Case | Kerala High Court grants bail to prime accused Swapna Suresh in the case registered by NIA under UAPA. Bail granted to her on a Rs 25 Lakhs bail bond and 2 solvent sureties. pic.twitter.com/dslNMH5ozw

— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2021

However, Rabins Hameed, Mohammad Shafi P and Ramees KT will remain in prison till their Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act period ends. The others will be released from prison, according to a report.

Meanwhile, since she has to execute a few bonds and sureties in this case and a few other cases, it's unlikely that she will be able to come out of jail, later in the day. Her counsel pointed out that the court has given her a clean chit in the terror angle in the NIA case.

The smuggling case came to light on July 5, 2020, when the Customs arrested Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Kochi, for allegedly smuggling gold in a diplomatic baggage destined for the Consulate.

Swapna Suresh, who previously worked in the UAE Consulate, and her associate Sandip Nair, were arrested in the case by the NIA from Bengaluru a few days later.

When strict restrictions were imposed on travel last year to check the spread of the coronavirus, both Swapna Suresh and Nair managed to drive from Kochi to Bengaluru from where they were arrested by an NIA team a few days later. Eyebrows were raised at that time on how they managed inter-state travel.

Meanwhile, Swapna's mother expressed happiness that her daughter finally has got bail.

"At this moment, all I wish to say is to say thank all who supported us and also to those who made fun of us. Every week I used to visit her in the jail and I used to return heartbroken. As a mother, what I will say is my daughter is innocent and she will prove her innocence. She used to say that she was trapped but never said who were those people, who trapped her. However, once she comes out, I myself will bring her before the media," said her mother.

(With inputs from agencies)