Sandep Nair, Swapna Suresh
Kochi: NIA reported that the accused in the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case used forged seal and stickers of UAE to smuggle the gold. NIA informed the court that the documents were forged by Fazil Fareed to ensure diplomatic protection for the baggage.
Meanwhile, the special court sent the accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair to NIA custody until July 21.
UAE had clarified that the baggage used for smuggling the gold was not part of their diplomatic cargo. NIA’s report, submitted in the court on Monday, substantiates this claim. NIA found out that the accused used forged seals and stickers of UAE to secure diplomatic privilege for their baggage.
NIA also informed the court that the gold smuggled into Kerala was not used for jewellery manufacturing but to fund terrorism.
Moreover, NIA filed a request in the court to change Fazil Fareed’s name and address. Earlier, the third accused in the case was identified as Fazil Fareed, native of Ernakulam. However, the NIA requested the same to be changed to Faisal Fareed, native of Kodungallur.