Both the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the petitioner (Swapna Suresh, the kingpin in the gold smuggling racket through diplomatic channel at Thiruvananthapuram) completed  their arguments before the Special Court in Kochi on the bail application moved by the latter. The judge has reserved the orders for August 10.

While the lawyer representing Swapna told the court that though the gold was smuggled into the country, the team probing the vase has failed to prove that it had any links with terrorism related activities.

“It is an offence which could be resolved by remitting the fine prescribed by the rule books,” said the lawyer. He also disclosed that each and every gram of gold seized from Swapna’s locker had been accounted for and there was no illegalities in her owning that gold.

But the NIA told in its reply that the accused was well aware of the implications of her action and she had confessed to the agency that she was not bothered about the possibility of the profitability from smuggling being diverted to anti-national activities and terrorism.

The revelations by the NIA to the court that the accused Swapna Suresh has close links with higher officials in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) was a serious issue.

“She had approached her contacts in the CMO to get the gold released from the Customs. She was getting sufficient help from the

police department of the State,” said the assistant solicitor general Vijayakumar who represented the NIA.

The lawyer for Swapna is opposing the slapping of the UAPA in this case which would make it impossible for the accused to come out on bail foe the next one year.