Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: NIA Seizes Around One Kg Gold And Rs One Crore From Swapna Suresh's Bank Lockers

In a major development in Kerala's high-profile gold smuggling case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized over Rs one crore and nearly one kilogram of gold kept in safe deposit lockers of prime accused in the case Swapna Suresh at two banks in Thiruvananthapuram, reports Economic Times.

The NIA in its remand report submitted in court has said that during her custody, Suresh had revealed that she had kept the proceeds of the crime at the bank lockers, and also invested as deposits at various banks.

The report was submitted by the NIA before a special NIA Court on Friday (24 July) after the agency produced Suresh and Sandeep Nair in the court as custody period of both had ended.

The anti-terror probe agency informed the court that Rs 36.5 lakh kept in Suresh's safe deposit locker at a scheduled bank branch and Rs 64 lakh and 982.5 gram gold ornaments kept in another safe deposit locker maintained at nationalised bank branch were seized on 23 July.

The NIA had said that the duo must not be allowed to be released on bail, as they would abscond and also tamper with evidence in the case.

NIA had also asserted that the seized digital evidence is still to be analysed and that detailed custodial interrogation of the duo on the basis of digital evidence is crucial in the case given its international links and ramifications. Thus, NIA had pressed that further custody of the duo would be required for the investigation of the contents in digital devices obtained.

Considering the NIA plea, the court sent the duo to judicial custody till 21 August.