Thiruvananathapuram: Swapna Suresh, a key accused in a high-profile gold smuggling case that rocked Kerala politics last year, is out on bail.

This is the first time she has been released from jail after her arrest 14 months ago.

Swapna came out of the women's jail at Attakulangara in Thiruvananthapuram district a little before noon on Saturday.

Her mother arrived at the jail with a copy of the bail order.

She left for her home in Balaramapuram without responding to the media.

The bail pleas of Swapna and seven other accused in the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were approved by the Kerala High Court on Tuesday.

The court said that prima facie it did not find that they committed any terrorist act as alleged against them.

Bail conditions

The bail was granted for an amount of Rs25 lakh and surety of two persons. Swapna will have to present herself to the jail authorities every Sunday between 10am and 11am till any further order is pronounced in the case. In case of her absence, the SHO has to report the matter to the investigation officer immediately. The accused has to inform which station of choice in advance.

The accused must not change their residence without informing the investigation officer. The accused cannot leave the state without the court's consent or contact the prosecution witnesses.

The sensational case

A multi-agency probe was initiated after the Customs seized 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore from diplomatic baggage at the air cargo centre of the Trivandrum International Airport late in late June 2020. 

The NIA, which took over the probe on the directive of the Union Home Ministry, had stated that the proceeds of smuggling could be used to fund terror activities.

Key accused P S Sarith, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair were subsequently arrested.

Swapna and Sarith who were former employees of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram allegedly used their past connections to smuggle gold using the diplomatic channel.

While Sarith was arrested by the Customs, Swapna and Sandeep Nair were nabbed from Bengaluru by the NIA in September 2020.