Kerala gold smuggling case explodes, 2 Left-backed leaders named
The two leaders who have been named in the Customs report are Karat Razak, who is an independent MLA from Koduvally in Kozhikode district and Karat Faisal, an independent councillor from Koduvally municipality.
FollowIn a major development in the Kerala gold smuggling scam case, the Customs Department has in a report to the Centre reportedly named 2 Left-backed leaders in the case.
The two leaders who have been named in the Customs report are Karat Razak, who is an independent MLA from Koduvally in Kozhikode district and Karat Faisal, an independent councillor from Koduvally municipality.
Both Left-backed leaders, however, denied the charges.
The revelation has come as yet another embarrassment for the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan government.
According to media reports, the 2 leaders' names cropped up after Soumya -- wife of prime accused Sandeep Nair -- revealed their alleged links with the gold smuggling gang.
Customs report says, "She also knew that Sandip and (another acused) Ramees were smuggling gold for Karat Faisal and Karat Rasak. She knew that they were part of smuggling gangs from Koduvally, Kozhikode."
Razak won the Koduvally Assembly seat in Kozhikode district in the 2016 elections with the backing of the Left Democratic Front after he deserted the Indian Union Muslim League.
Reacting to the development, Razak was quotes by news agency IANS as saying: "If the ongoing probe goes correctly, I will never even be called by any probe agency. But if there is going to be a conspiracy, then maybe I will be called. Ever since I changed my political affiliations, I have been besieged with all sorts of canards. I categorically deny having ever seen or met any of these people."
