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In its plea, the education ministry alleged that there were close links between the accused and senior officials and staff of the Kerala government. (Image: Reuters/File)
The Supreme Court is hearing a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking transfer of the gold smuggling trial from Kerala to Karnataka, claiming that a “free and fair trial” in the case is not possible in the state
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Center whether diplomatic baggage can be scanned in India or whether it enjoys immunity from search.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Satish Chandra Sharma put the question to Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, who sought time to respond to the question.
“The question that needs to be considered is whether the Indian government can scan diplomatic packages. Can it be done? Is there immunity? What is the procedure? Three weeks later, the judge asked the ASG when he posted the matter for hearing.
Raju said he would seek directions on the issue and return to court.
“On the face of it, if it is used for crimes, then it can and will not remain diplomatic baggage,” Abu Sayyaf said.
The Supreme Court is hearing a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking transfer of the gold smuggling trial from Kerala to Karnataka, claiming that a “free and fair trial” in the case is not possible in the state.
In its plea, the education ministry alleged that there were close links between the accused and senior officials and staff of the Kerala government.
The main accused in the case, Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, and another accused from Bengaluru, Sandeep Nair, were arrested in He was detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 11, 2020.
The National Intelligence Agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Customs have conducted separate investigations into the fraud case in which gold worth Rs 15 crore was seized from diplomatic baggage at the UAE Consulate at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on July 5, 2020.
Several people, including M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and another former employee of the UAE Consulate, Sarith PS, were arrested in connection with the case.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)
