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Kerala gold smuggling case: Accused Swapna Suresh, Sandeep Nair sent to 5-day Customs custody

Meanwhile, suspended IAS officer M Sivasankar is being interrogated by NIA for the third time in relation to the case

Kerala gold smuggling case: Accused Swapna Suresh, Sandeep Nair sent to 5-day Customs custody
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Kochi, First Published Jul 28, 2020, 12:59 PM IST

Kochi: Two accused in the high-profile Kerala gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, were on Tuesday (July 28) sent to five-day custody of the Customs Department by a Kochi court.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) also dismissed the bail petitions of five accused -- Hamjad Ali, Samju, Muhammad Anwar, Jipsal and Muhammad Abdul Shameem -- in the matter.

The court also issued non-bailable warrants against two other accused in the case -- Faisal Fareed and Rabins Karikkankudiyil Hameed -- on the request of the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive).

Fareed and Hameed are suspected of being in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The NIA, which is probing the high-profile case related to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels, had earlier taken Sarith PS, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair to various places in Thiruvananthapuram including their residences and a flat near the Secretariat for collecting evidence.

Meanwhile, suspended senior IAS officer M Sivasankar on Tuesday (July 28) is being quizzed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team for the third time.

Action was taken against Sivasankar after allegations surfaced that he had links with Swapna Suresh, the key accused in the case related to the attempt to smuggle gold through diplomatic baggage using the name of a person in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.

The matter had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore, smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage, was busted by customs in Thiruvananthapuram. The case is being probed by the NIA.

Also watch: We know India is battling enemies like the dreaded Covid-19 & a conniving China. But there is a bigger enemy, and that one lies within.

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