Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The Nation Investigation Agency (NIA) team took Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, accused in the gold smuggling case, to their respective residences for evidence collection, here on Saturday.
This is the first time that the NIA sleuths have taken the accused to their residences in the state capital to collect evidence in the gold smuggling case.
After Sandeep Nair, today Swapna was also taken to the Heather Tower apartment near the Secretariat where they had allegedly conspired. The NIA team carried out a preliminary investigation here before moving on to their respective residences for evidence collection.
Swapna was taken to her apartment in Ambalamukku, Thiruvananthapuram. The team took about twenty minutes at the apartment.
Subsequently, Sandeep was taken to his house in Aruvikkara and details were collected.
The evidence collection process was carried out amid tight security ensured by the State police.
Read: Gold smuggling case: Interpol issues Blue Corner notice against Faisal Fareed
Later, the investigation team returned with Swapna to Peroorkada Police Club where the NIA officials have been camped.
Meanwhile, the NIA has also request Interpol to issue a blue corner notice against Faisal Fareed, another accused in the high-profile case. Earlier, a non-bailable warrant was issued against Fareed by a special NIA court in Kochi.
Three key accused in the matter -- Sarith PS, Swapna Suresh, and Sandeep Nair -- are currently under the custody of the NIA, which is probing the high profile case related to the smuggling of gold through diplomatic channels in the state. Swapna is the second accused and Sandeep fourth accused in the case.
The matter had come to light after 30 Kg of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by customs in Thiruvananthapuram, is being probed by the NIA.
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