AS Indian Customs officials widened the net of inquiry a woman named Soumya confessed that her husband Sandip who is currently absconding was connected with the gold smuggling mafia. Soumya, who was taken into custody from Kochi said that Sandip smuggled gold from Dubai and he keeps close contact with Sarith and Swapna Suresh former UAE consulate employees and that both of them are  involved in the case.

Meanwhile, mainstream media tried a futile attempt to name Sandip Nair as a CPI(M) activist. A section of news channels wrongly quoted Sandip’s mother to substantiate this fraudulent argument. But later Usha, Sandip’s mother, strongly clarified that her son has close contact with BJP leaders.

On July 8, Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of Kerala sought immediate intervention from the prime minister for an effective and coordinated investigation into the seizure of about 30 kg gold by customs officials at Trivandrum international airport on July 5. In a letter addressed to the prime minister, Narendra Modi, Pinarayi assured that the state government will provide all necessary assistance and support to the agencies involved in the investigation. “The fact that the attempt to smuggle huge quantities of gold was concealed in diplomatic baggage makes the matter extremely serious. It is learnt that customs officials are conducting inquiry into the incident. The case has serious implications as this undermines the economy of the nation. In fact, it has more than one angle warranting a thorough investigation,” he said.

Chief minister has also requested that an effective and coordinated investigation into this incident by all central agencies concerned is the need of the hour. The scope of the probe should cover all aspects from the source to the end utilization. Every link of this crime should be unraveled so that such incidents do not recur, he said in the letter.

In another development, Soumya has confessed to customs officials that her husband smuggled gold from Dubai many times. Sandip(husband of Soumya) is a BJP activist who keeps good rapport with senior BJP leaders including Kummanam Rajashekharan, former Mizoram governor.

Series of allegations  with ulterior motives against Kerala government followed by an arrest of former PRO (public relations officer) of UAE consulate in Thiruvanathapuram  in a gold smuggling case have been fizzled out after the clarifications  made by chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. The CM said that the government has nothing to hide in this issue and Swapna Suresh former employee of UAE consulate has nothing to do with the state government. She has never been an employee of the department of IT, Kerala.

In another development M Sivasanker, secretary of the department of information technology has been removed from this post.

Leader of Congress and BJP alleged that someone from the chief minister’s office had intervened in the issue. But the joint commissioner of customs ruled out that no one form CMO has intervened in the issue.

The chief minister said that the baggage was sent to the UAE consulate and it was received by those who were authorized by the UAE consulate in the capital. How can the state government reply to this failure? State government has no role in this scenario. A   woman connected to this incident was nowhere connected to the department of IT in the Kerala state government. There are so many projects under the IT department. Once she worked with the marketing wing of a project on contract basis. She was employed by a placement agency. She had worked with Air India and the Kerala government has nothing to do with this incident.  The chief minister welcomed inquiry by central agencies.

CPI(M) state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also welcomed the investigation by any central agency. CBI can also inquire and seek the help of Interpol if necessary. The central government should take initiative to reveal all facts behind this smuggling, Kodiyeri said.