Kerala gold smuggling case: ED attaches Rs 1.85 crore worth FDs, gold

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached fixed deposits along with seized cash recovered from the bank lockers totalling to Rs 1.85 Crore in Kerala gold smuggling case.

Amongst the attached assets, Rs one crore allegedly belongs to M. Sivasankar, IAS, former Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of Kerala.

The federal agency had initiated investigation on charges of money laundering on the basis of an FIR registered by NIA in Kochi against Sarith P S, Swapna Prabha Suresh, Faisal Fareed and Sandeep Nair under section 16, 17 & 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).


The Customs Commissionerate (Preventive), Cochin had seized 30 KG gold worth Rs 14.82 crores at Trivandrum International Airport in July this year.

It is alleged that the seized gold was camouflaged as diplomatic baggage to UAE Consulate, which has immunity from checking at airport as per Vienna convention. It is further allegd that the consignment was to be received by the accused Sarith P.S, who worked in UAE Consulate earlier as Public Relations Officer in complicity with Swapna Prabha Suresh, Sandeep Nair and others.

ED, in a press release, today claimed that it's probe has revealed that the accused namely Sarith P S, Swapna Prabha Suresh, Faisal Fareed and Sandeep Nair were indulged in illegal smuggling of gold to India and huge amount of Proceeds of Crime (POC) were generated.

The agency has alleged that the Identified proceeds of crime totalling to Rs 1.85 belonging to the accused have been provisionally attached under PMLA. Accused M. Sivasankar, IAS was arrested by Enforcement Directorate on October 28 and is currently in judicial custody. The agency has already filed a prosecution complaint (equivalent of a charge sheet) in the case.