What Is Kerala Gold Smuggling Scam? Know All About The Scandal, Prime Accused Swapna Suresh And More

The case has been handed over to the NIA as there are serious national security implications in the organised smuggling operation

Youth Congress activists hold pictures of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (C), former UAE consulate officer Swapna Suresh (L), and State IT Secretary M Sivasankar (R) during a protest over the Kerala gold smuggling case. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry on Thursday handed over the controversial Kerala gold scam to the National Investigation Agency for conducting the further probe into the matter. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Central government said that the case has been handed over to the NIA as there are serious national security implications in the organised smuggling operation. According to the reports, MHA resorted to the decision after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting to let the probe be done at the hands of NIA. CM Vijayan was forced to make the move after the opposition parties demanded him to resign from his post of State Chief Minister. Custom Apprehended 30 Kg Gold In Diplomatic Cargo Last week, the Custom Department at the International Airport had seized 30 Kg Gold being smuggled inside a diplomatic cargo addressed to the UAE Consulate General Office in Thiruvananthapuram. According to the reports, the seized cargo mentioned items such bathroom fittings, noodles, biscuits and dates which was being sent from Sharjah-based Al Zatar Spices. It is to be noted that the diplomatic cargoes usually enjoy immunity from routine Customs examination. But this time, the department got their hands even at the 'diplomatic cargo' as they had prior inputs about cargo carrying yellow metal. Swapna Suresh: The Alleged Key Player In Scandal  As of now, the key player being probed in the scam is Swapna Suresh who is the former executive secretary at the UAE Consulate General Office in Thiruvananthapuram. The primary probe in the case has revealed that Swapna may have forged Consulate documents to illicitly use diplomatic immunity as a cover for smuggling the yellow metal from Gulf countries. Meanwhile, Swapna, who is currently on run, filled an anticipatory bail before the Kerala High Court on Thursday claiming that that she has been falsely dragged in the case. Opposition Blames CM Pinarayi Vijayan What further makes the case controversial is claims by opposition which states that the accused Swapna has close ties with people from Kerala Chief Minister's office. The matter escalated to a heated level on Tuesday when a senior IAS official and CM's principal secretary M Sivasankar was found to have close network with Swapna Suresh. On acknowledging this, CM soon removed Sivasankar from the post. Besides, Sivasankar has now been arrested and undergoing interrogations. However, the case had already grown bigger. Citing these incidents, the opposition in the state asked the CM to resign from the post.