Kochi: Swapna Suresh and Sarith P S, two key accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case on Thursday, withdrew their bail pleas from a special National Investigation Agency court here.
Earlier this week, Swapna Suresh secured bail from Principal sessions court in Kochi in connection with a money laundering case pertaining to the gold smuggling being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.
However, police remanded her in another case related to gold smuggling being probed by the NIA. The investigation team also slapped the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against her.
She secured bail in another case filed by the Customs department in the gold smuggling case. She was granted bail as the Customs did not file the final report within the prescribed time frame of 60 days.
Read: NIA suspects D-Company links to Kerala gold smuggling case
The case, which is currently being probed by the ED, NIA and the Customs department, pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. The matter 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.
In addition, The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the Enforcement Directorate not to arrest M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the Kerala Chief Minister's Office till October 23 in connection with the gold smuggling case.
The counsel appearing for Sivasankar submitted before the court that the applicant is willing to appear before the agency and cooperate with the investigation in the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the alleged smuggling of gold through diplomatic channels.
(ANI)
Read: Kerala gold smuggling: HC directs ED not to arrest ex-principal secy to Kerala CMO till Oct 23
