Shashi Tharoor's 'Former Staffer' Held By Customs At Delhi Airport For Smuggling Gold From Dubai

The Delhi Customs Department has claimed that it apprehended Shashi Tharoor's staffer while he was receiving a consignment of smuggled gold.

New Delhi: Delhi customs officials said on Thursday that they have arrested the personal assistant of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at the IGI airport in the national capital after he was allegedly caught smuggling gold from Dubai. However, the Congress MP said that the arrested person is a former member of his staff. The accused was identified as Shiv Kumar Prasad. He was caught with 500 grams of gold, the Times of India reported, citing custom sources.

According to ABP News sources, the Customs Department apprehended the suspect while he was taking the handover of gold brought from abroad from one of his men.

"Prasad has an aerodrome entry permit card that allows him access to airport premises. He entered the airport premises and receiving a packet when he was held along with the passenger," ANI reported citing sources. The case is under investigation and their credentials have been verified, the sources added.

Authorities May Take Any Necessary Action: Shashi Tharoor

Following the incident, Shashi Tharoor took to X and said, "While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds. I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course."

'Alliance Of Gold Smugglers': Rajeev Chandrasekhar Hits Out At CPM, Congress

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in a reference to the report on the detention of the alleged aide of Shashi Tharoor, criticised the Congress and the CPM dubbing them an "alliance of gold smugglers."

"First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling, now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers," Chandrasekhar said on X.

(With Inputs from Varun Jain)