Ernakulam (Kerala): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths, probing the case of gold smuggling through diplomatic baggage channel at the Trivandrum Airport, seized Rs 1 crore and 1 kilogram of gold from two bank lockers in the name of Swapna Suresh, the second accused in the case.
As per the remand report submitted by the NIA in the Court, Rs 36.5 lakh was confiscated from the bank locker of Federal Bank in the name of Swapna, with Statue Branch in Thiruvananthapuram. Another Rs 64 lakh and 982.5 grams of gold ornaments were seized from the other bank locker in her name with the State Bank of India, Thiruvananthapuram City Branch.
Swapna’s advocate informed the court that the ornaments were gifted by a Shaik in Dubai during her wedding. The court allowed Swapna’s children to meet and talk to her. In the court, Swapna said that the Customs officers had mentally pressurised her to record her statement.
Also read: Kerala gold smuggling case: Swapna Suresh, Sandeep Nair sent to judicial custody till Aug 21
Meanwhile, as the custodial period allowed for the NIA has ended, the Court has remanded Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the two accused persons in the case, to judicial custody until August 21. Both of them have been lodged in the District Prisons, in Kakkanad, Ernakulam. The court deferred considering their bail pleas to the next Wednesday.
The NIA had informed the Court that the Assistant Solicitor General would appear for the NIA, in the case. The NIA also requested the Court to consider the accused persons’ bail plea on a later date to make it convenient for the Assistant Solicitor General to appear on that day.
Advocate Geo Paul appeared for the second accused Swapna Suresh. Advocate Vijaya P V affiliated to the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) appeared for Sandeep Nair.
