Political Drama: Shashi Tharoor's Aide Caught with 500 gm of Gold

Shashi Tharoor's Aide Found with 500 gm of Gold at Delhi Airport, BJP Criticizes

An aide of Shashi Tharoor was caught with 500 grams of gold at Delhi airport. The BJP took a jab, calling the aide a "smuggler."

Two individuals were detained at Delhi airport in a gold smuggling case. One of them claims to be Shashi Tharoor's personal assistant.

Delhi Customs detained two individuals on Wednesday at the airport for allegedly smuggling 500 grams of gold. One of the detainees claimed to be the personal assistant of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Reacting to the incident, union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar remarked that the CPM and Congress are an "alliance of gold smugglers."

"First CM Secretary Linked to Gold Smuggling. Now, Congress MP's Aide/PA Detained for Gold Smuggling. Both CPM and Congress, INDI Alliance Partners, Accused of Gold Smuggling," He Posted on X.

Shashi Tharoor, the current MP, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, which held elections on April 26. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the BJP candidate for the same seat.

Delhi Customs seized gold worth Rs. 35.22 Lakhs. "Based on suspicion, Customs officers at IGI Airport, New Delhi, have registered a case of gold smuggling against an Indian national arriving from Bangkok on flight TG-323 on Wednesday," stated Delhi Customs. It further added that subsequent investigations revealed the involvement of another individual.

Shiv Kumar Prasad was present at Delhi Airport to receive a passenger arriving from Dubai. Both individuals were apprehended when the passenger attempted to hand over around 500 grams of gold chain to Prasad.

"Prasad possesses an aerodrome entry permit card granting access to airport premises. He entered the airport premises and received a packet when he was detained along with the passenger," officials stated.

Gold worth Rs. 35.22 Lakhs was seized under section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962. Delhi Customs mentioned that the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the permit, as part of the protocol team for a Member of Parliament, are being investigated.

"Law must take its own course," remarked Shashi Tharoor. He expressed shock at the incident involving a former member of his staff who had been providing part-time airport facilitation assistance. Tharoor clarified that the individual is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis out of compassion.

"In an X post, the Congress MP stated, 'I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course.'"

Customs authorities stated that both Prasad and the passenger were detained, and 500 grams of gold were seized from their possession. The case is currently under investigation, and their credentials are being verified, according to the report.

In 2020, Kerala was shaken by a gold scam after Customs seized 30 kilograms of gold at Thiruvananthapuram Airport from a diplomatic bag. The investigation was subsequently taken over by the NIA. M Sivasankar, the principal secretary to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, was suspended and removed from his post amid allegations of his connections with one of the accused.