NEW DELHI : The Union Ministry dismissed Deputy Minister for External, V Muraleedharan’s claim on the sensational contraband.The Deputy Ministry from Finance Ministry asserted that the smuggled gold indeed arrived inside a diplomatic baggage and not private luggage. The minister, Anurag Singh Rahoor, was giving out information during House proceedings in the Lok Sabhaon Monday.
The baggage was marked for an employee of UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram , the minister clarified adding that, investigations are progressing at good pace. 16 people have been arrested so far in the case of whom, one person has high-level contacts, the minister said. He was responding to a query put up by NK Premachandran, Anto Antony and Dean Kuriyakose.
For long into the scam, V Muraleedharan made appearances claiming the smuggled gold at the airport was private and not diplomatic. And, not so coincidentally, BJP channel head, Anil Nambiar had asked the key culprit to deny the baggage was a diplomatic one, soon after it was it was intercepted by Customs officials on 5 July
