Kochi: The Customs department has sent a report to the central government citing the links of Kerala Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel with the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, reliable sources have informed. The report also includes revelations made by the Minister in connection with the gold smuggling case.
The report states that none of the parcels that came to the consulate had records of religious texts. The report also points out the need to seek more clarity in this regard.
The report also informed the centre about the Minister’s transactions with the consulate. It also reported that the Minister has accepted financial assistance from the consulate which was against law.
According to Jaleel, the parcel taken from the consulate to Malappuram, in the vehicle attached to a government enterprise named C-apt, was carrying Qurans. But the Customs report does not approve this.
The Customs states that if so many books were brought together, the parcel should have been much heavier. So far there are no records at the consulate of such a heavy parcel being received, the Customs report stated.
The Customs Preventive Commissionerate in Kochi has sought an investigation for violating the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. It is learned that the report has reached the Union Finance Ministry.
Assets to be attached
The assets of Swapna Suresh, under the custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED) will be attached. Preliminary steps in this regard are underway. Data regarding her transactions at various banks have been collected. The process can begin according to the FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).The ED will investigate into the financial gains of the accused and if they have any foreign investments. For this, the accused in the gold smuggling case including P. S. Sarith, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair were taken under ED custody.
The ED had approached the court seeking custody of the accused after it was learned that hawala money was widely used for smuggling the gold.
Investigation moving to another Minister
The investigation team is probing the involvement of another Kerala Minister visiting the UAE consulate. The accused under custody have stated their acquaintance with this Minister. The investigation team will probe if the accused have any deeper links with the Minister.It is learned that a personal staff of the said Minister had deposited Rs 7 lakh in Carbon Doctor, a workshop owned by Sandeep Nair in two instalments.
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