The gold that got away by Amisha Arora

The Kerala Gold Smuggling Case is a major political scandal that has rocked the state of Kerala in India. The case involves the smuggling of large quantities of gold into Kerala through the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. The gold was allegedly smuggled by a group of people who had links to the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M).

The case came to light in July 2020, when the Customs Department seized 30 kilograms of gold from a diplomatic bag that was meant to be delivered to the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. The gold was valued at ₹14.82 crores.

The Customs Department investigation revealed that the gold had been smuggled into Kerala through a network of people who had links to the CPI(M). The main accused in the case is Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. Suresh has alleged that she was part of a larger smuggling racket that was being run by the CPI(M).

Suresh's allegations have led to a major political controversy in Kerala. The CPI(M) has denied any involvement in the smuggling racket, but the allegations have damaged the party's image. The case is still under investigation, and it is possible that more people will be arrested in the coming months.

It is a major scandal that has had a significant impact on the state of Kerala. The case has raised questions about the role of the CPI(M) in the smuggling racket, and it has also damaged the party's image. The case is still under investigation, and it is possible that more people will be arrested in the coming months.

The case has also sparked a debate about the role of diplomatic bags in smuggling operations. Diplomatic bags are supposed to be immune from search and seizure, but the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case has raised questions about whether this immunity is being abused. The case is likely to have a significant impact on the rules and regulations governing diplomatic bags.

It's a complex and controversial case. It is a case that has had a significant impact on the state of Kerala, and it is a case that is likely to have a lasting impact on Indian politics.

Timline of the case

• In November 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Swapna Suresh, the main accused in the case. Suresh is a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. She has alleged that she was part of a larger smuggling racket that was being run by the CPI(M).

• In December 2021, the ED arrested M Sivasankar, the former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala. Sivasankar is a close aide of the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. He has been accused of helping the smugglers to operate their racket.

• In January 2022, the ED arrested K T Jaleel, a former Minister in the Kerala Government. Jaleel is a member of the CPI(M). He has been accused of accepting bribes from the smugglers.

• In February 2022, the ED arrested Fazil Fareed, a businessman who is close to the CPI(M). Fareed has been accused of funding the smuggling racket.

The case is still under investigation, and it is possible that more people will be arrested in the coming months.

It is difficult to say what will happen next in the case. However, it is likely that the case will have a significant impact on the political landscape in Kerala. The case has already damaged the image of the CPI(M), and it is possible that the case could lead to the downfall of the party.

In my opinion, the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case is a major scandal that has had a significant impact on the state of Kerala. The case has raised questions about the role of the CPI(M) in the smuggling racket, and it has also damaged the party's image. The case is still under investigation, and it is possible that more people will be arrested in the coming months. The case has also sparked a debate about the role of diplomatic bags in smuggling operations. Diplomatic bags are supposed to be immune from search and seizure, but the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case has raised questions about whether this immunity is being abused. The case is likely to have a significant impact on the rules and regulations governing diplomatic bags.