The NIA on Friday conducted searches at five locations in Mallapuram and Kozhikode districts of Kerala in the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case relating to seizure of 30 kg gold worth `14.82 crore on July 5, 2020 at Trivandrum International Airport from the baggage addressed to the UAE Consulate at Thiruvananthapuram.
The searches were conducted at the residence of five accused persons Mohamed Aslam, Abdul Latheef, Nazarudheen Sha, Ramzan P. and Muhammed Mansoor. These accused persons conspired with the already arrested accused and facilitated smuggling of gold through import cargo addressed to the UAE Consulate General, and its disposal, the NIA said.
During searches, several electronic items and documents have been seized, the agency said.
So far, 21 accused persons have been arrested in the case and further investigation in the case is continuing, it added.
Meanwhile, the CBI on Friday then Executive Engineer(Now Retired), Lucknow Division Sharda Canal, Lucknow (also holding the additional charge of then Superintending Engineer, XII Circle, Irrigation Department during the alleged period) Roop Singh Yadav and a Senior Assistant, Irrigation Department, Lucknow, Raj Kumar Yadav in an on-going investigation of a case.
The CBI had registered a case on November 30, 2017 on the request of Uttar Pradesh Government and further notification from Government of India, and taken over the investigation of the case, earlier registered vide FIR No.831/2017 at Police Station, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.
It was alleged that irregularities were committed in implementation of “Gomti River Channelisation Project”’ and “Gomti River Front Development” by Irrigation Department, Government of UP. The alleged irregularities including non publication of NITs, diversion of funds and pooling of tenders in four major works of Gomti River Front Development project namely Construction of Diaphragm wall, Construction of Intercepting Trunk Drain, Construction of Rubber Dam and preparation of Vision Documents are also being investigated in the case.
It was further alleged that the accused favoured some contractors and executed the agreements with them on the basis of forged documents without the publication of NIT in the newspapers.
Both the arrested accused were produced before the Court of Special Judge, CBI Cases, Lucknow and remanded to four days Police Custody.
