The Customs officials at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 seized a baggage that came through a diplomatic channel, addressed to the Consul General of UAE in Thiruvananthapuram, from Dubai on June 30. Suspicious of its contents, officials refused to release it despite requests from various quarters and sought the permission of the Union Ministry of External Affairs to examine the baggage.

The bag was opened on July 5 in the presence of the officials from the office of the High Commissioner, New Delhi, and of the UAE Consulate. The bag revealed 30 kg of gold concealed in pipes in boxes labelled as plumbing materials. Sarith Kumar who had come to collect the baggage as a representative of the Consulate was arrested.

Suspecting the involvement of a powerful racket engaged in terrorist activities, the Centre intervened and deputed the National Investigation Agency to investigate the case. More arrests followed with the NIA and Customs jointly leading the investigation.

Here is all about the case so far:

Key Accused

P. S Sarith

Former PRO of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. He was reportedly ousted from the Consulate for misconduct, the current UAE Consulate Officer relied on him for odd jobs like collecting baggage from the airport.

Role: His job was to collect the baggage and hand it over to the people as suggested.

Status: Arrested, in judicial custody, to be brought before NIA Court today (July 17). Case filed against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Booked under Sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (funding terrorist activity) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorist activity) of UAPA.

Swapna Suresh

Former executive secretary at the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. She was also removed from the post following an audit team report in 2019. Later, she was appointed as operations manager at SpacePark, a project under the state IT department. She was terminated the day her name got involved in the case.

Role: She reportedly used her contacts to bring gold through diplomatic channels and also ensured its safe transport to other places.

Status: In NIA custody till July 21. Was on the run for 5 days after the gold was seized. Arrested by NIA from Bangalore and remanded in their custody. Cases filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Booked under Sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (funding terrorist activity) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorist activity) of UAPA. Also booked for forgery and cheating on a complaint of the IT department that said she submitted fake certificates to gain employment

M Shivashankar

Former IT secretary and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Alleged to be closely connected to the key accused in the case. Customs questioned him for 9 hours, to be questioned again in the coming days. Key accused Swapna Suresh was employed in a key post in a company under the IT department even though she was not qualified for it.

Role: As per Customs report, his office arranged a flat near the Secretariat for the accused to meet whenever a consignment was due. He also made a few calls to get the baggage released from the Customs, according to Customs. A government-appointed committee found a violation of service rules on his part.

Status: Not arrested. Suspended from service.

Faizal Fareed

A Dubai-based entrepreneur, Faizal is a native of Kodungallur in Thrissur district. He owns a gym in Qusais in Dubai and a workshop for luxury vehicles.

Role: As per the Customs report, he manages the operations from Dubai, and has the baggage packed and sealed in his office using fake stamps and stickers of the UAE government.

Status: Absconding. A non-bailable warrant has been issued for his arrest. His passport is canceled. Cases filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Booked under Sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (funding terrorist activity) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorist activity) of UAPA.

Sandeep Nair

A friend of Swapna Suresh, he runs an automobile workshop, Carbon Doctor, in Thiruvananthapuram. Formerly an employee of a timber shop in the city, Sandeep is now a start-up entrepreneur and travels to Dubai often.

Role: He managed the deals, arranged funds to buy gold, and co-ordinated the sale. He makes the plan of action along with K T Ramees, sends the money raised from investors to UAE. Once gold is brought in, he receives it from Sarith or Swapna and hands it over to Ramees. As per reports, he and Ramees gets the major share of the money.

Status: Arrested by NIA from Bangalore and remanded in their custody till July 21. Case filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Booked under Sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (funding terrorist activity) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorist activity) of UAPA.

K T Ramees

Involved in activities as varied as gold smuggling and deer hunt, Ramees has been on the radar of Customs and Enforcement Directorate since 2015. He smuggled in parts of gun and gold through Kochi and Karippur airports but has not been convicted yet. NIA suspects him to be a hawala dealer for terrorist groups

Role: One of the key players. He is involved from the planning, co-ordination of investments, transfer of money to UAE mainly through hawala, and transport of gold to Jalal for sale.NIA will look into his connections with terror groups

Status: Arrested, produced before Additional Court for Economic Offences, and remanded to custody.

Jalal Muhammed

Native of Muvattupuzha, was on the run from 2015 after he was found to be involved in an incident of gold smuggling at Kochi International Airport. He fled to Dubai, and has evaded arrest since.

Role: Finding investors to buy gold from abroad, and once the gold arrives he takes it to jewellers and arranges sale. He is also reported to the person who divides the money and decides the share for each one involved.

Status: He surrendered before the Kochi Customs Preventive Officer after Ramees was nabbed.

Remanded to judicial custody till July 27

Arun Balachandran

He was the director of IT Parks, Kerala and former Fellow (IT) of the Chief Minister. He was removed from the role of IT Fellow when the CM’s office received information about his varied businesses.

Role: According to Customs, he was in the know about the gold smuggling deals and arranged facilities like accommodation for the persons involved in the case. He complained to the Customs that he was being made a scapegoat to clear Shivashankar

Status: Removed from the post of director, to be questioned by Customs and NIA

Muhammad Shafi

Hailing from Malappuram district, Shafi is one of the investors in the trade of contraband gold.

Role: His role was to find customers for the gold smuggled in, and also to provide funds to buy gold abroad.

Status: Arrested, produced before Additional Court for Economic Offences, and remanded to judicial custody.

Hajjath Ali

Native of Malappuram, he is also one of the investors for sale and purchase of gold. He has been involved in similar activities before, says Customs.

Role: One of the investors

Status: Arrested, produced before Additional Court for Economic Offences, and remanded to judicial custody.

Muhammed Anwar

Native of Manjeri, he was arrested by Customs based on the testimony of K T Ramees

Role: One of the middlemen between the racket and investors

Status: Remanded to judicial custody

Saithalavi

Native of Malappuram, he was also arrested by the Cutoms based on the information from K T Ramees

Role: One of the middlemen to find investors and buyers

Status: Remanded to judicial custody

T.M Samju

A 40-year-old from Kozhikode, he was also booked as one of the persons involved in the deals after Ramess confessed

Role : Investor, as per reports he paid for 5 kg of gold

Status: Remanded to judicial custody