gold smuggling Archives - The Gulf Indians

Kerala assembly witnesses no-confidence motion after 15 years

The Gulf Indians — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:54:48 +0000

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) moved a no-confidence motion against the CPM-led government in Kerala Monday, primarily over the gold smuggling case in which a former top bureaucrat in the chief minister’s office is being investigated for his alleged links to the smuggling racket.

The motion, moved by senior Congress leader VD Satheeshan, was backed by UDF partners like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the PJ Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress (M).

Apart from the smuggling racket, the UDF also brought to the centre-stage of the proceedings in the Kerala Assembly the alleged corruption in the government’s flagship housing project ‘Life Mission’ and the administration’s engagement of a corporate law firm for legal advice about the bidding of Thiruvananthapuram’s airport privatisation move in which a family member of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani is a partner.

A no confidence motion against the government is being brought after 15 years.

It was in 2005, that Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had moved a motion alleging corruption charges against the Oommen Chandy government.

The Centre had earlier decided to lease the airport to Adani Group for a period of 10 years, which was opposed by the Congress and the CPI(M).

The special Assembly session on Monday also saw the voting for the lone Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant after the death of MP Veerendra Kumar of the Lokantrik Janata Dal, an ally of the CPM. Kumar’s son MV Sreyams Kumar has been nominated by the CPM-led LDF. The UDF has put forward the name of Lal Varghese Kalpakavadi, the chief of the Congress farmers’ unit. With the LDF enjoying a majority in the Assembly with 90 seats, Sreyams Kumar won the seat.

The post Kerala assembly witnesses no-confidence motion after 15 years appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Swapna key member of gold smuggling gang: Customs

The Gulf Indians — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 11:25:07 +0000

Swapna Suresh is a pivotal member of a gang engaged in smuggling gold, and that she has conspired and actively participated to facilitate the act of smuggling, according to the customs report submitted to the Kerala high court in the gold smuggling case on Juley 10.
The report was submitted in court while considering Swapna’s bail plea. The case will next be heard on July 14..
The seizure of 30 kg gold from a diplomatic consignment at the Trivandrum International Airport on Sunday has snowballed into a major political controversy in Kerala as the prime suspect, Swapna.
In an audio message on July 9, Swapna, who is on the run, said she had no role to play in the matter.
The Customs report states, “From the evidence gathered so far, it appears Swapna Suresh is a pivotal member of a gang engaged in smuggling of large quantities of gold to India by defrauding government agencies and customs department using the cover of diplomatic protection. And further she has conspired and actively participated to facilitate this act of smuggling.”
The report says that by 3.15 pm on July 5, Suresh had switched off her mobile phone and has been absconding since. Customs officers tried their best to serve her notice in all her know addresses.
The report says it is necessary to interrogate her in custody to unearth the correct facts.
“Additionally, involvement of higher government officials cannot be ruled out at this stage, which can only be unearthed if the investigation agency is permitted to interrogate Swapna,” it added.
The NIA has registered a case against Suresh as it is critical to national security and India’s ties with friendly states. The probe agency has also appealed that her bail application be dismissed.

The post Swapna key member of gold smuggling gang: Customs appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

IAS officer M Sivasankar removed from IT secretary post

The Gulf Indians — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:02:59 +0000

IAS officer M Sivasankar has been removed from the post of IT Secretary in the backdrop of the gold smuggling controversy, where it is alleged that he had links with Swapna Suresh, a suspect in the case.

Earlier in the day, he was also removed from secretary to the chief minister after the opposition party hugely criticized the LDF government and demanded CBI probe in this matter. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had sent a letter to PM calling for the CBI probe.

Mohammed Y Safirulla will be appointed as the new IT Secretary. Meanwhile, Mir Mohammed who replaced Sivasankar as secretary to the chief minister will hold additional charge.

Swapna Suresh who was earlier employed in the IT department was being investigated in the seizure of 30 kg of gold smuggled through “diplomatic baggage” at the Thiruvanathapuram international airport.

The post IAS officer M Sivasankar removed from IT secretary post appeared first on The Gulf Indians.