Coimbatore: NIA officials conduct raids at the house of a gold workshop owner in Coimbatore in connection with the gold smuggling case in Kerala.
Coimbatore: NIA officials today raided the house of a gold workshop owner in Coimbatore in connection with the gold smuggling case in Kerala.
It came to light that a box that was received by the UAE Embassy in Manappadil, Kerala had 30 kgs of gold hidden in it. The Customs officials seized the box and are conducting an investigation into the issue.
During investigation it was revealed that an ex-employee at the embassy, Swapna Suresh was the brain behind this smuggling. Following this she was arrested by the NIA in Bangalore. The NIA officials are conducting investigations under the suspicion that gold worth Rs.100 crores could have been smuggled so far.
More than 20 people have been arrested so far in connection with this case. While Swapna Suresh has been imprisoned at the Central Prison in Viyyur she suffered from chest pain and she was taken to the Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital where she is being treated currently.
Meanwhile the NIA officials are conducting a raid in the house and gold workshop of Nandagopal, a gold workshop owner who lives in Pavizham Street (near Karuppagounder street) as they suspect him to be connected with the gold smuggling case.
A team led by DSP Shahul Hameed have been involved in the raids since 6 AM today. Various questions, 'Was gold from Kerala transferred to the gold workshop of Nandagopal? Or was it sold?' and 'Were the jewels sent back to Kerala?' are being investigated by the NIA officials.
The workshop of Nandagopal is on the ground floor and his house is located on the first floor of the building. More details are awaited as the investigation is still underway!