Kochi (Kerala): After a fire was reported in the protocol section of the General Administration Department in the Secretariat on Tuesday, which led to the gutting of office files, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala claimed that it is "sabotage" to hide files pertaining to the gold smuggling.
"This is sabotage. It is an act to hide files related to gold smuggling. This includes files related to Embassies, Consulates, Raj Bhavan, guest house booking, protocol. Those are all paper files. The Home Secretary, Revenue Secretary and GAD Secretary said there were no backup files available for these files. It was heard that a number of files were taken away. Some of them have also got stole," he said.
The truth will not come out if the Chief Secretary or any IAS official inquires. The NIA should investigate this. The United Democratic Front (UDF) will demand this," he added.
Security beefed at Kerala secretariat
The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to strengthen security at the secretariat, a day after a minor fire there triggered protests by opposition parties, which alleged that important files, including that relating to the gold smuggling case, had been destroyed.
Continuing their protests, workers of opposition UDF, including youth congress, BJP, Yuva Morcha, Indian Union Muslim League, the Youth League, Pathikajathi Morcha hit the streets over the incident, which turned violent at some places, following which police registered cases against them.
Read: Kerala government constitutes panel to probe fire incident in state Secretariat
The state cabinet, which evaluated the steps taken after the violent incidents in the last two days, entrusted additional chief secretary, Home department, to take action to strengthen the security of the administrative headquarters of the state.
Meanwhile, police registered a case against around 50 people, including Congress MLA V S Shivakumar, BJP state chief K Surendran and workers of the Congress-led UDF and BJP for trespassing into the secretariat on Tuesday 'in violation of COVID-19 protocol' after news of the fire broke out.
Gold smuggling case
Pinarayi Vijayan government has been drawing flak in the gold smuggling case involving diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate. the matter is being probed by central agencies, including the NIA, Customs and the Enforcement Directorate.
The NIA has arrested many people, including former employees of the Consulate Swapna Suresh and Sarith. The NIA had arrested four more accused on August 24 in the Kerala gold smuggling case. The agency has so far arraigned 25 persons as accused in the case. Of this, 20 have been arrested.
Read: NIA arrests four more accused in Kerala gold smuggling case
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 Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5.
(With Inputs from agencies)
