Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case: Court seeks proof on ‘terror angle’

KOCHI: The NIA special court in Kochi on Wednesday directed the agency to submit details of materials that led it to believe there was a ‘terror angle’ to the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case.
The court issued the directive while considering the bail application of Swapna Suresh, the second accused in the case. Suresh’s counsel strongly contested the charges slapped on her under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The court directed NIA to submit the case dairy and to give a list of incriminating materials that can point to the terrorism angle in the case.NIA said the court would be convinced about terrorism angle after it goes through the case diary.
The agency reiterated that the proceeds of the gold were used for terrorism purposes. It also added that Swapna was used by the smuggling gang led by KT Ramees to execute the operation and that without Swapna the smuggling through diplomatic channel wouldn’t have been possible.It said it has gathered evidence to establish that the acts by the accused were to destabilise the monetary security of the nation for which they planned to smuggle maximum gold during the lockdown period.
Advocate Geo Paul, representing Swapna, submitted that there was an ‘ugly haste’ from the part of NIA to project her as an accused and that it was due to political reasons.
“When NIA registered the case, Swapna was not even an accused in the customs case. NIA booked her five days after customs opened the baggage. What enquiry was done in this brief period, which elicited enough reason to charge UAPA against someone,” said Paul. He further said that Swapna’s remand report didn’t show anything that can connect her to any terrorism activities.
“It was said in the remand report that money received from the gold smuggling was deposited in her lockers and accounts in banks. This is an obvious contradiction to their previous argument that the proceeds went to terrorism purposes,” said Paul.
The advocate also raised a technical issue regarding registration of UAPA Act in the gold smuggling case.
He also mentioned the experience of scientist Nambi Narayanan who faced investigation of five agencies after false espionage charges were alleged against him.
Meanwhile, the customs continued its interrogation of Swapna and Sandeep Nair on Wednesday. Swapna is learnt to have stated that she got involved in the smuggling operation as she was considerate of Sarith’s financial problems.