Top CPI-M leader's son interrogated in Kerala gold case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned Bineesh Kodiyeri in connection with Kerala gold smuggling case and Bengaluru drug case. The ED team, after analysing the answers given by Bineesh, is likely to ask him to appear before it again, shortly.

Kochi (Kerala): CPI-M Kerala State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son Bineesh Kodiyeri was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over 11 hours in their office here till 10 p.m. on Wednesday but it now appears his travails are not yet over as he might be summoned again.

State Congress president Mullapally Ramachandran on Thursday said that various national agencies are probing the gold smuggling and the drug dealings and the CPI-M's senior leader Balakrishnan has a moral obligation to quit his post.

According to those in the know of things, the ED officials had a short meeting soon after the questioning was over and did not appear to be satisfied with the answers given by Bineesh.
The ED team, after analysing the answers given by Bineesh, is likely to ask him to appear before it again, shortly.

The central agency's move came following charges of links between a key accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case and a prime accused in the Bengaluru drug seizure case.

Earlier, the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had alleged that Bineesh Kodiyeri has close links with some members of a drug racket busted by the Narcotics Control Bureau in Bengaluru recently.

Youth League general secretary P K Firos had alleged that Bineesh had invested money in a hotel business launched by the drug case accused Mohammed Anoop in Kammanahalli in 2015 and demanded a comprehensive investigation into it.

Bineesh has said he knew Anoop and his family and the latter had borrowed money from him and some others for starting the restaurant business in Bengaluru some years ago.

Bineesh had also said he was shocked after hearing the news about Anoop's alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The matter, which pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels, had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores, smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage, was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5.

(Inputs from agencies)