Gold smuggling case: Trial can be transferred to Bengaluru, says SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has taken a favourable stance towards the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea to transfer the trial of the money laundering case linked to the gold smuggling case from Kerala to Bengaluru. The court observed that, at first glance, the case appears to be serious with grave allegations. The bench told Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Kerala government, that there was no reason to oppose the ED’s request.

The observation was made by the bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal after the state government submitted that there was no need to shift the trial to Bengaluru. Kapil Sibal pointed out that the ED’s allegation is that the state government is attempting to influence the investigation. However, the state argued that since the investigation is over and the chargesheet has been filed, there is no ground for transferring the case. Sibal also sarcastically remarked that since a non-BJP government is now in power in Karnataka, the ED may no longer have any interest in shifting the trial.

The court clarified that it would hear all parties, including the accused, before making a final decision. The matter has been adjourned for two weeks. In its plea, the ED claimed that the trial should be shifted to Bengaluru as it could be sabotaged if conducted in Kerala. The accused named in the petition include the Chief Minister’s former Principal Secretary M. Sivasankar, Swapna Suresh, P.S. Sarith, and Sandeep Nair.