Kochi: The Prison Department restricted the Customs officials from accompanying gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh along with her visitors at the prison. The Director General of Prisons issued a circular making it clear that Customs Officers cannot be allowed as per the prison laws.

Normally, the officials of probe agencies are allowed along with visitors of prisoners who are booked with COFEPOSA (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act). Swapna Suresh is lodged at Attakulangara prison as COFEPOSA prisoner.

The Customs officials were allowed to enter the prison along with Swapna’s visitors including her relatives until recently. However, the prison staff asked the Customs officials not to accompany the relatives to the prison during the visit the other day.

They pointed out the new circular of the Jail DGP Rishiraj Singh as reason for the new move. It has been noted in the circular that the presence of probe officials is not mandatory according to the state’s rules of COFEPOSA.

The circular further pointed out that the normal prison laws are applicable for COFEPOSA prisoners also. This circular has been handed over to Attakulangara prison and Poojappura central prison.

However, the Customs pointed out that the circular of the prisons department is against the rules. They are taking this stand in the case of Swapna Suresh in order to sabotage the investigation, they alleged.