Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), on Friday, recorded the arrest of Shabas, the first accused in the Karipur gold smuggling case. He was produced before the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offence).
DRI officials said that Shabas, from Koduvally, had smuggled gold with the help of four women, including Rahila and Hiromasa, and two others yet to be identified.
According to them, he had given about 39 kg of gold to Rahila and Hiromasa. “During the investigation the name of a local politician in Koduvally came out. It was revealed that as much as 60 per cent of the gold smuggled by this racket was for this suspected person.
Similarly, two other persons, apart from Nabeel and Abdul Layis, are suspected to be involved in the case. Shabas’ relatives run a few jewellery shops in Koduvally.
And these persons supplied gold to those who were willing to pay a higher price. Shabas submitted that Hiromasa was innocent and became involved in smuggling due to financial constraints,” a DRI official said.
When Shabas was produced before the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, he complained he was tortured by DRI officials.
Following this, the court asked the police to take him to the Ernakulam General Hospital for a medical examination.
When the accused was produced before the court after the medical examination, Aashiq Muhammad, Shabas’ counsel, submitted that there was no case against Shabas, as DRI had not seized any gold from him and that the gold was handed over to the women in Dubai and Shabas had not committed any illegalities in India.
However, C P Udayabhanu, the DRI special prosecutor, argued that the arrested women had confessed that Shabas was involved and that the smuggled was for him.
The court later remanded Shabas in judicial custody. Shabas’ complaint would be forwarded to the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate and the court will consider his bail petition on Monday.
Rahila and Hiromasa were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody until December 6.
Who’s Who of Infamous Crimes
The Ernakulam Additional CJM Court (Economic Offence) was in the spot light, with as many nine persons, who are in the media limelight, were at the court on Friday. These persons included the infamous Bunty Chor, who was produced before the court in relation to a case registered at the Ernakulam South Police Station, and Harris and Asifa, both accused in the Nedumabassery Gold Smuggling case. Shamsudheen, who was arrested with smuggled gold from Thiruvananthapuram Airport, was also produced before the court. At 11.30 am solar scam accused Saritha arrived. In the evening, Avinosh, the accused in the traffic warden assault case was also present at court for bail purposes.