Kerala gold smuggling case: NIA submits case diary in court

On Monday, the court had expressed its ire on the way the NIA had added sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the case and asked the probe team to come clean on it.

The NIA court talked tough on the bail petitions of eight among the 30 people who have been arrested by the NIA and it was then that the court asked for the case diary.

Following this, the NIA on Tuesday submitted its affidavit, which reveals that two accused who were in Dubai, Faizal Fareed and Rabins are both in custody there after being arrested by the UAE police.

The NIA added that they had issued a 'blue corner' notice through Interpol against six people, including the two arrested in Dubai.

Incidentally, this was the first time that the NIA has gone on record to state that the two accused are under arrest in UAE.

A team of NIA officials was in the UAE in August and had discussions with officials there.

On Tuesday, the NIA counsel said that they wish to get some more time as their leading counsel was indisposed following Covid protocols, but it was disallowed and the case has been posted for Wednesday.

In a related development, one of the accused Sandip Nair, who was arrested along with prime accused Swapna Suresh, by the NIA from Bengaluru in July, had earlier expressed his desire to turn approver and the NIA court while agreeing to allow him to make his statement, however pointed out that this does not guarantee that his request would be granted.

On Tuesday, his statement was also recorded in court to that effect.