KT Jaleel, Minister for Higher Education, was interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday for almost eight hours in connection with the Quran import scam, gold smuggling and violation of protocol guidelines by the former. Jaleel did not speak to the media.

This is being seen as the continuation of his interrogation last week by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with these cases. Sources in NIA said there were contradictions in the statements given by Jaleel to the ED and they needed clarifications. It has been alleged that Jaleel smuggled in gold through diplomatic channels masquerading as Qurans and dates. The Muslim religious leaders are up in arms against the minister for insulting the holy book for illegal activities. 

Activists of the BJP, its frontal organizations like Mahila Morchcha, BJYM and ABVP and the Congress workers staged demonstrations and rallies across the State. Most of these rallies saw the demonstrators clashing with the police resulting in use of water cannon and  lathi charge. Many BJP leaders were injured in police action.

The Opposition upped the ante with K Surendran, BJP State chief demanding the immediate resignation of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Government. “This is the first time in the history of Kerala a minister is being interrogated  by an investigation agency in connection with anti-national activities. The NIA has clear evidence about the role of the minister in smuggling activities. There is no way out for Jaleel other than resignation. The attitude of Chief Minister Vijayan is also ridiculous. Vijayan knows that if Jaleel is asked to quit, other ministers too have to quit because they too are involved in smuggling and other anti-national activities,” said Surendran.

Leaders of Muslim League P K Kunhalikutty MP and TPA Majeed, took strong objection to Jaleel dragging the name of party chief Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal into the case and warned the minister to desist from such actions. Kunhalikutty said that the minister has no moral rights to be in the government as all the premier investigation agencies are probing him.

But the CPI(M) leaders A Vijayaraghavan and MV Govindan declared that there was nothing abnormal in Jaleel being questioned by NIA and there was no need for him to resign.