The Ministry of Home Affairs has permitted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe into the Kerala gold smuggling case.  Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had written a letter to PM Modi seeking his “intervention for an effective investigation” into the case. 

Permitting NIA to look into the case, MHA said that the organised smuggling operations may have serious implications for national security. 

On July 5, the Customs officials seized 30kg of gold in a ‘diplomatic bag’ at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport. The diplomatic cargo was addressed to the attache of UAE consulate. 

The UAE embassy has also initiated an independent enquiry into the matter. They said that those who tried to tarnish the image of the UAE mission in India won’t be spared.

The case became controversial as the involvement of the CM office with the primary accused had surfaced. Principal Secretary to CM M Sivasankar has been sacked after his role in hiring Swapna Suresh came under the scanner.

Swapna Suresh, the prime suspect who was working as the manager of the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited, is absconding.