The gold smuggling case in Kerala has now snowballed into a major political row, as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) moved a no-confidence motion against the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government in Kerala. The no-confidence would be considered by the speaker in the assembly session which is scheduled to begin on July 27.

“Government is surrounded with many allegations especially recent one which involves links of Chief Minister’s Office with gold smuggling mafias,” said Congress MLA, V.D Satheeshan, announcing the party’s decision to move ahead with no-confidence.

Earlier on Friday, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had said that CM Pinarayi Vijayan should take moral responsibility and resign from his post. He added that the involvement of M Sivasankar IAS, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister in a case that raises a threat to national security is shocking.

State CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asserted that it will not protect anyone involved in the case. Alleging that BJP and Congress were using the issue to attack the government, he said on a Facebook post that the opposition fears that the ongoing probe by the central agencies would “boomerang” on them if it proceeded in the “right direction”.

Meanwhile, Sarith PS, the prime accused in the case who was produced before a special court by

National Investigation Agency has been sent to 7 days custody. Customs have arrested two more persons Aboobacker and Abdul Hameed, in connection with the case.

The Customs officials at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 had seized a baggage that came through a diplomatic channel, addressed to the Consul General of UAE in Thiruvananthapuram.

The bag opened on July 5 in the presence of the officials from the office of the High Commissioner, New Delhi, and of the UAE Consulate had revealed 30 kg of gold concealed in pipes in boxes labelled as plumbing materials.