Kochi. 2 days after the CPI (M) state secretary’s son Bineesh Kodiyeri was cross-examined, the Enforce Directorate (ED) on Friday questioned Kerala Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel in connection with diplomatic baggage (Gold Smuggling Case). The interrogation took place in the morning today, after which he returned to Malappuram. Jaleel reached Kochi on Thursday evening for interrogation. The interrogation lasted for two hours and he reached the Aluva ED office in a private vehicle instead of official vehicle.
ED also took statements on protocol violation pertaining to gold smuggling. According to chief of ED, Minister Jaleel was also asked upon his connections with the accused of gold smuggling case.
It is learned that he was asked about the arrival and distribution of religious texts from abroad through diplomatic baggage. Reportedly he was also questioned about his links with gold smuggling case accused, Swapna Suresh.
Jaleel had received some parcels through the UAE consulate’s diplomatic baggage. The allegations came against him after the gold smuggling case came to light through diplomatic baggage.
Trouble began for Jaleel after phone call records of Swapna Suresh, main accused in the gold smuggling case, were leaked to the media. The minister’s phone number figured prominently in the list. Soon after the list surfaced, the minister had called a press conference in Malappuram and said he called Suresh as a consular employee in connection with Ramadan kits offered by the UAE consulate.
This clarification invited more trouble for him as he is not supposed to accept any funds or freebies without the consent of the ministry of external affairs, experts said, adding it was a clear violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
During the investigation, the customs found that a heavy consignment came on March 4 in 31 bags, weighing more than 4,000 kg and they were taken to Malappuram. The minister admitted he took these packets to his constituency but said they were religious books.
