Gold Smuggling: Missing UAE Consulate Kerala Police security officer found

Kerala Police officer, attached to the UAE Consulate who went missing since Thursday was found in a semi-unconscious state near his house. Cops suspect that he attempted suicide and now has been admitted to a private hospital.

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major development in the now controversial gold smuggling case, a Kerala Police officer attached to the UAE Consulate who went missing since Thursday night, was found in a semi-unconscious state near his house, said, police officials.

"He was found in a semi-unconscious state in a very dense, bushy area about 150 meters from his house. Yesterday, this area was not searched and when it was done today, he was found with an injury in his hand," said a local.The police suspect that Jayaghosh may have tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrist.He later was moved to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital and his condition is said to be stable.

Jayaghosh was deployed as a gunman attached to the UAE Consulate few months back and was earlier posted with Armed Reserve Police Camp in Thiruvananthapuram.

After Jayaghosh went missing, Ajith Kumar, his brother-in-law lodged a complaint at Thumba police station.

His family members claimed that he was mentally disturbed after the gold smuggling investigations started.
Earlier in the day speaking to the media here on Friday, senior police official Anil Kumar confirmed that Jayaghosh, a security official of the Kerala Police posted at the UAE Consulate here was reported missing since Thursday night.

READ: Gold smuggling case: Cong to move no-confidence motion against Kerala govt, alleges Speaker's involvement

The relatives of Jayaghosh said he was feeling unsafe and jittery as he was threatened by some unknown people.

Reports have now surfaced that Swapna had called Jayaghosh early this month a few times.

In a related development, the UAE attache in the Consulate left for Delhi from where he has flown back to his home country.

The gold smuggling case which has large scale ramifications first surfaced when P. S.Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 when he was facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

It turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here and employed with the state IT Department, surfaced. The case turned full circle when their links with the second most powerful person in the Chief Minister's office -- his Principal Secretary M. Sivasankar, were revealed.

Along with Sivasankar, another top official in the state IT department, Arun Balachandran, has also been removed. (IANS)

READ: Kerala Gold Smuggling case: Former IT secy Sivasankar suspended