Kochi : Probe into gold smuggling via diplomatic channel at Thiruvananthapuram airport leads investigators to trade unionist OG Hariraj, a fronline leader of Sanga Pariwar organisation, the BMS . Following leads from incriminating telephone calls, the Customs officials on Thursday conducted a search of Hariraj’s house in Njarakkal.
Hariraj heads Customs Clearance Association and shares close relations with senior BJP and RSS leaders, and major businessmen in the city , proof of which emerged soon after news on the sensational gold smuggling case broke out.
Hariraj’s social media posts shows ardent support for the BJP and RSS leaders of whom. Incidentally, Union Minister V Muraleedharan is one of his very close contacts and Hariraj, devotedly posts Muraleedharan moments right from his oath-taking ceremony to all developments thereafter. His latest post was a share from V Muraleedharan's page, where the latter felicitates ACP Sriram Murthy and Custom over the smuggled gold cache.
Hairaj’s page is also dedicated to posts from saffron news sources like BJP leader Saneep Warrier Fans Club, Kavipada, Nanma TV, Chatrapathi Shivaji, Jay Bharat Matha, Janam TV. His circle of friends also include state-level BMS leaders. However, Hariraj now has more questions than to deal with than those answered by his posts.
According to sources, as soon the news broke of Customs seizing gold smuggled in diplomatic baggage, Hariraj made a suspicious telephone call to a shady trade union leader. This unionist is believed to have helped Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the prime suspects in the case, make their escape. When gold was intercepted, this man had threatened Customs officials saying checking a diplomatic baggage could cost them their jobs. And when officials refused to relent, he attempted to rope in consulate employees to the scene. Finally, when opening the baggage appeared inevitable, he made several attempts to have it sent back to UAE. All these moves added to suspicions of the Customs officials who already sensed foul, and they decided to unravel the baggage using official means.
Incidentally, this union leader, who remained largely obscure, became an active figure on the union front soon after his relocation to Thiruvananthapuram. And thereafter, Hariraj’s upliftment too was quick and spectacular, say BJP leaders themselves residing in Njarakkal.
“ A big salute to ACP Sririam Murthy sir. Kerala was bold in its endeavour to bust India’s biggest gold smuggling operation by obtaining Centre’s permission in just five days. Opening the dubious baggage in the presence of UAE consul general to build evidence to the case, is highly appreciable,” read Muraleedharan’s post shared by Hariraj.
In a strange reversal of fortunes, when K Surendran and V Muraleedharan jumped at the opportunity and called sensational press meets to bombard the Left government with accusations, they never imagined the case would course its way close to BJP.
