Kondotty: The Customs claimed that only one person had come forward to vie for the post of gold appraiser at Karipur airport after inviting applications for the post in 2019. Informing the same, the Customs said that only the son of the appraiser, who was working there till then, applied and was selected. This explanation comes in the wake of an allegation raised by MLA P V Anvar that only one person has been the gold appraiser for the Customs in Karipur for more than 32 years.

Since 1992, N V Unnikrishnan has been the gold appraiser of Customs in Karipur. The task is to check the gold seized by customs and record the purity and weight. 

The Nilambur MLA had also alleged that apart from Customs, Unnikrishnan also inspects and separates the gold seized by the police, and that the gold is diverted through him.

The reward for the appraiser was based on the weight of the gold caught. Now, the rewards are based on the value of the gold.

Customs officials said that an advertisement was placed on its website in 2019, inviting applications for the post of gold appraiser, and that despite being contacted by them, the gold workers refused to apply for the post.