The decision to transfer the Kerala gold-smuggling case out of the state could shield the witnesses from any influence.
The ED's Kochi Zone assistant director has asked the Supreme Court for permission to move the Kerala gold-smuggling case to a court in Bengaluru. (Creative Commons)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, 20 July, approached the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of the case — registered by the agency relating to the gold-smuggling scam — from Kerala to Karnataka.
It is reported that the ED Kochi Zone assistant director has asked the court for permission to move the trial to a court in Bengaluru.
The decision is being seen as a move to shield the witnesses involved in the case from any influence.
South First has reached out to the Enforcement Directorate for further updates, but is yet to receive a response.
The gold smuggling controversy erupted in Kerala in July 2020 when 30 kilograms of gold, worth ₹14.82 crore, was found hidden inside a diplomatic consignment addressed to the UAE consulate in Kerala.
The ED arrested Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the case alongside Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s principal secretary M Sivasankar.
Suresh worked as a contracted staff with the state government’s flagship Space Park project.
Her alleged role in the smuggling case and her connections with Sivasankar snowballed into a major controversy in Kerala.
The Opposition used the Kerala gold-smuggling case as a major topic in its political campaigns, and levelled serious allegations against the government and Vijayan.
The issue was also reiterated in the bypolls held in the Thrikkakara Assembly in the Ernakulam district, where the Congress won by a hefty majority over the CPI(M).
However, the CPI(M) denied these allegations and blamed the Central government for not ensuring security checks at the airport.
The workers of the Congress and the BJP showed black flags to Vijayan on numerous occasions to protest against the LDF government.
The Opposition also his for his alleged involvement in the case.
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