Kerala gold smuggling case: Swapna Suresh granted bail

Kerala gold smuggling case, key accused, Swapna Suresh was granted bail by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kochi as the customs did not file charge sheet in the case even after 60 days. However, she will not be released from the jail as she is accused in the case registered by NIA.

Ernakulam: The key accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh has been granted bail. The bail was granted as the customs did not file charge sheet in the case even after 60 days.

It was granted by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, ACJM court in Kochi, which handles Economic Offences. Even though bail was granted, she will not be released from the jail, as she is facing a probe in the case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Multiple agencies including NIA, Customs and Enforcement Directorate are probing the case of smuggling of gold worth over Rs 100 crore through diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate at Thiruvananthapuram since November last year. Swapna Suresh and Sarith were former employees of the UAE consulate and allegedly used their past connection to smuggle gold using the diplomatic channel.

Sandeep Nair was arrested along with Swapna Suresh by NIA from Bangalore on July 11. He was one of the main links to understanding the smuggling chain. Sapna and Suresh were booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

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Earlier, Sandeep was also granted bail by AJCM in a similar fashion. The Customs is also probing whether M Sivasankar, who was removed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and also IT Secretary after allegations surfaced that he had links with Swapna Suresh, had used his office to provide any help to the key accused.

The NIA had registered the case under Sections 16, 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against four accused --Sarith, Swapna Suresh, Faizal Fareed and Sandeep Nair on July 10. Suresh and Nair were arrested on July 11 from Bangalore after they absconded from their homes in Thiruvananthapuram.

NIA had said their probe revealed that Suresh is one of the prime accused who had conspired and facilitated the smuggling of gold through diplomatic baggage of the UAE consulate, Thiruvananthapuram on many occasions with other accused and associates.