Customs detain LDF-backed councillor Karat Faisal in Kerala's gold-smuggling scam

In a major development in Kerala's diplomatic baggage gold smuggling scam, the Customs department has detained influential local Left leader Karat Faisal.

Faisal, a councillor of the Koduvally Municipality in Kozhikode district, was taken into custody after a secret raid at his residence on Thursday. He was taken into an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Manorama News, quoting Customs sources, said Faisal was the kingpin of the gold smuggling racket.

He was allegedly involved in investing and selling gold smuggled through international airports in the state. Faisal allegedly helped the racket sell 80 kg of gold smuggled into Kerala through diplomatic channels.

Faizal's involvement in the crime was reportedly revealed by accused K T Ramees, who is in the Customs' custody. The Customs sleuths have found digital evidence, including call details and voice messages, incriminating Faisal in the case during the raid.

Kodiyeri's Mini Cooper row

Faizal won the local body polls in 2015 as a Left-backed Independent candidate. He represents the Koduvally Town ward. The Customs' action came even as he had launched an unofficial campaign for the upcoming local body polls. Faisal was in the middle of a controversy in 2017 when CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan used his luxury Mini Cooper car during a party rally in Kozhikode district. Faisal's detention has reignited the controversy over Kodiyeri using the luxurious car for a party programme. Congress MLA V T Balram took a jibe at the CPM by posting on Facebook a picture of Kodiyeri onboard the car.

Faisal had been under central investigation agencies' scanner earlier also. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had named him an accused in a case of smuggling six kg of gold through the Calicut International Airport in 2013.

Probe MLAs: League

The Opposition UDF has hit out at the ruling LDF following the detention of Faisal by the Customs. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the Congress-led UDF, has demanded that the Customs questions two MLAs who have close links with Faisal. The League was pointing fingers at Koduvally MLA Karat Razak and Kunnamangalam MLA PTA Rahim.

The League activists took out a march to the CPM's office in Kozhikode alleging that the ruling party was protecting gold smugglers.

Razak, an LDF-backed independent MLA, rubbished the League's allegations against him. He said Faisal was a close friend of him, but he did not know whether Faisal had any role in the gold smuggling. He said he did not have any involvement in Faisal's business matters. Razak, a former League leader, said he was being witch-hunted by the IUML.

PTA Rahim of LDF ally INL declined to comment.

Smuggling through diplomatic baggage

On 5 July 2020, 30 kg of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore was seized by Customs at Thiruvananthapuram Airport from a diplomatic bag that was meant to be delivered to the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. A multi-agency probe was initiated and it soon unearthed worrying tentacles into offices of Kerala government.

Key accused P S Sarith, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair were arrested shortly after. M Sivashankar, the principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was suspended and removed from the post after preliminary inquiry confirmed that he had links with Swapna Suresh, one of the accused.

The National Investigation Agency, which took over the probe on the directive of the Union Home Ministry, said that the proceeds of smuggling could be used to fund terror activities.