Notice has been issued by Customs to Kerala Minister K T Jaleel again to appear for interrogation next week in connection with the distribution of holy book Quran through the diplomatic channel in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Minister K T Jaleel’s gunman was questioned by Customs yesterday and Customs had also retrieved phone details from his phone which was deleted earlier. Based on the information retrieved, the notice was issued to the Minister.
However, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to question C.M. Raveendran, Additional Private Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, early this week as part of its probe into the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case. The agency is expected to serve a notice for the third time to Mr. Raveendran on Monday after he failed to turn up at its office twice. A day after issuing the notice asking him to appear on November 6, Mr. Raveendran informed the investigating team that he tested positive for Covid-19. The ED received a communication from him last week stating that he tested negative. The agency served a second notice to him asking to appear for questioning on Friday. However, Mr. Raveendran did not turn up after he was admitted at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, citing follow-up treatment. He was reportedly discharged from the hospital on Friday amidst criticism from the Opposition that he was evading interrogation. Meanwhile, the ED raids at three business establishments in Vadakara on Friday triggered speculations that the agency was stepping up its probe against Mr. Raveendran even though the sleuths remained tight-lipped on whether it had any connection with him. Rumours have spread that these business establishments are said to be benami assets of Raveendran.
