The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Monday that after recent searches related to the suspected smuggling of gold into Kerala via diplomatic luggage, it has confiscated seven immovable properties worth Rs. 1.13 crore and gold worth Rs. 27.65 lakh.
According to the federal investigation agency, on April 13, searches were conducted at four locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu that belonged to Nandu alias Nandagopal, the owner of KGN Bullion, Samju TM, and his father-in-law Shamsudheen.
During these searches, it said that seven immovable assets worth Rs 1.13 crore and gold worth Rs 27.65 lakh were discovered and confiscated.
Samju TM stated in his statement that he had bought 4,500 grams of illegal gold from Mohammed Shafi (a smuggler), which was thereafter sold to end clients via the business of his father-in-law, the agency claimed.
The racket that was busted when 30.24 kg of gold worth approximately Rs 15 crore was taken from the diplomatic luggage of the UAE Consulate at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5, 2020, is currently the subject of separate investigations by the ED, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Customs department.
In addition to M Sivasankar, a former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and two former workers of the UAE embassy in Kerala, Swapna Suresh and Sarith P S were the main suspects in this case. Sandeep Nair was also detained by the ED.
In accordance with the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency filed a charge sheet against them, which was followed by an additional prosecution case.