The joint team seized nearly 23 kgs of smuggled gold and arrested 23 smugglers, making it the largest single-day haul of yellow metal in recent times in the country.
Prime accused Sarith has stated before the customs department that a bundle of cash was sent to CM Vijayan in UAE via the consulate during his trip in 2017.
Lashing out at the Kerala government, Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said he doesn't report to CM and that his reporting officer is Union Finance Minister, who he claims is very supportive
It has come to light that the 5 men were members of the radical Islamist outfit Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). SDPI, however, has claimed the members were expelled earlier.
The arrest of IAS officer M Sivasankar, the former chief secretary to the Chief Minister, is being seen as a massive setback to the CPI(M)-led Kerala government.