Thiruvananthapuram: In the sensational Kerala gold smuggling case involving accused Swapna Suresh, the Customs Department has imposed penalties totaling ₹12 crore on former UAE Consulate officials. Both the former Consul General and the Admin Attaché (ex-Charge d’Affaires) were fined ₹6 crore each.
The prosecution move comes as part of ongoing legal proceedings. The information surfaced through an RTI reply obtained by Kochi resident Govindan Namboothiri. However, details of whether the fines were paid remain undisclosed.
The gold smuggling through the Thiruvananthapuram airport had triggered a major political storm in Kerala, with allegations linking top officials, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s former Principal Secretary P.R. Sivasankar. Despite multiple investigations, the source and final destination of the smuggled gold remain unclear. The case is still under review before the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT).
