SC Seeks Central Govt Response On ED’s Transfer Petition In Kerala Gold Smuggling Case

The Supreme Court has asked the Central Government to respond to a transfer petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Kerala gold smuggling case. The petition requests the transfer of the case to another state.

ED’s Compliance with Arvind Kejriwal Judgment

During the hearing, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Sanjeev Khanna, cited the Arvind Kejriwal judgment. The bench emphasized that the ED must comply with the law and adhere to the logic outlined in the judgment whenever an arrest is made. The court stated that all prescribed parameters must be met to ensure proper legal procedure.

Kerala Government Opposes Case Transfer

The Kerala government opposed the transfer, arguing that the ED has not provided concrete reasons for it. In its affidavit, the state asserted that transferring the case without justification would harm the state’s reputation. The government also stated that the ED’s accusations against political offices lack evidence, and most of the documents presented, including statements from the accused, are not relevant to the case.

The Kerala gold smuggling case began after the seizure of gold worth ₹15 crore from the UAE Consulate’s luggage at Thiruvananthapuram airport in July 2020. The NIA, ED, and Customs Department have conducted separate investigations, leading to the arrest of several individuals, including former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM, M. Sivasankar, and others.

Also Read: Supreme Court Issues Notice To Bihar Government Over Petition By Expelled RJD Leader