Thiruvananthapuram: Investigators are claiming that the smugglers have link between the Popular Front of India (PFI), a Kerala-based suspected radical organisation. The alleged gold smuggling racket busted in the state this month.
The smuggled gold may have been used to fund “anti-national” terror activities by the PFI . National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are also claiming that the money may have been used to fund against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protester that happened across India. The CAA law was passed in December 2019.
However the PFI has denied the allegations.
“There is a possibility that there is a PFI link here (in the gold smuggling case), which is being explored. It is suspected that the gold smuggling proceeds were being pumped in for anti-national activities by the PFI,” said a source in the security establishment.
“We are analysing the details of the PFI’s bank accounts to establish a trail,”.
“It was initially found that the PFI pumped in money to fund anti-CAA protests. It is a possibility that it was money sent to the PFI through this smuggling route,”the source added.
Few days back UAE consulate ex staff has been arrested by custom official at Thiruvananthapuram airport. Custom official has 30 30 kg of gold from diplomat bag.
Now the case is registered under section 15, 16, 17 and 18.
The decision came a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his “intervention for an effective investigation” into the seizure of gold worth crores of rupees from a “diplomatic baggage” at the airport in the state capital.
