Kochi : The chase for Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the two accused in the sensational gold smuggling case, ended late last evening with NIA’s Hyderabad unit nabbing the duo from a budget hotel in Bengaluru’s Koramangala area.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Sandeep rode the group comprising Swapna, her husband and two daughters aged 8 and 18, out of Kerala in his S-Cross car. They initially lodged at a service apartment owned by one Sudderendra Rai and later on Friday, booked a budget hotel Octa Studio, and shifted there. The hotel, not a very expensive one like the star kind, charged Rs 1800 per suit, where Sandeep lodged separately and Swapna and family stayed in a another room.
According to witnesses at Octa Studio, a car with 2 women cops from Karnataka Police were first to reach the scene after which, the hotel was cordoned off. The NIA team arrived in their vehicle shortly after, taking with them Swapna, her family and Sandeep. The NIA have shifted Swapna’s husband and their two children to an undisclosed destination, while she along with Sandeep were whisked away to NIA’s Bengaluru office for questioning. A little after midnight, the duo were produced before the NIA judge at his residence after which the sleuths set off with them via undisclosed route to Kerala and are expected to reach Kochi around 3 pm today.
The case being a sensitive one, not much is being divulged by the NIA team. From the little information given out, both Swapna and Sandeep are cooperative with the interrogating officials. Not being hardened criminals, according to sources, both are giving precise answers to all that’s asked, said sources. When found, Swapna was in extremely stressed state of mind, a fact corroborated by appearances on television where she bore almost no similarity to the series of flamboyant pictures that dominated the screen ever since the smuggling racket was busted at Thiruvananthapuram airport on 5 July.
Online appearances are the norm now, however post their arrival in Kochi today, Swapna and Sandeep will be produced front of NIA judge in person, given that the high-profile case has potential implications for the country’s security and politics. After their appearances before the judge at his residence, the duo will be quarantined at Covid care centre where if tests for the virus are negative, investigators at NIA will move in to take custody.
