NIA books 4 under UAPA in Kerala gold smuggling case

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 10

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today took up the investigation into the Kerala gold smuggling case by registering an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the four accused — Sarith PS, Swapna Prabha Suresh, and Sandeep Nair and Fazil Fareed.

Agency officials said: “All accused have been charged under Sections 16, 17 and 18 of the UAPA in connection with the seizure of 30 kg of 24 carat gold worth Rs 14.82 crore at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Cochin.”

The NIA, in a statement, said as the case pertains to smuggling of a large quantity of gold into India from offshore locations “threatening the economic stability and national security of the country”, it amounts to “a terrorist act” as stated in Section 15 of the UAPA.

It further said as the alleged crime has “national and international linkages and as the initial inquiries have revealed that the proceeds of smuggled gold could be used for financing of terrorism in India, NIA has taken up the investigation of the case”.

The Customs Department has said it suspected a smuggling syndicate misused the name of a person in the UAE consulate who enjoys diplomatic immunity.

Youth outfits demand CM’s resignation

• Youth outfits of the Congress, BJP and IUML clashed with the police in Kerala as their statewide protests demanding CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation in the case turned violent on Friday
• The police used water cannons and lathicharged the activists to disperse them. Covid-19 protocol was thrown to the winds by the youth outfits in their marches
• Over 50 Youth Congress activists marched to the CM’s house and tried to climb over the barricades. Cops used water cannons to disperse them. PTI