No businesses anywhere in world, never asked to ban any newspapers: KT Jaleel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former minister KT Jaleel on Thursday said that he is happy to hear that he has nothing to do with the gold smuggling case. Jaleel also said that he never asked to ban 'Madhyamam' daily. He was responding to the allegations of gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh that Jaleel had asked for help in banning newspapers in the Middle East.

"Madhyamam' had prepared a feature with pictures of those who died due to Covid. Many relatives of the deceased protested against the publication of the photograph in the newspaper and sent a message to Swapna Suresh, PA of the then UAE Consul General, to know the status of the publication of the news and picture that many people died in the Gulf without receiving medical treatment. A copy of the same was sent from the personal mail ID to the official ID of the Consul General. Nowhere in this has it been said that any newspaper should be banned. These things were only brought to their attention. It was requested that appropriate action be taken. There is no violation of protocol in this", he said.

Jaleel also denied the allegation of having business relations with the UAE Consul General. Jaleel said that he was not involved in any other business except running a travel agency when he was the secretary of the youth league. "There were no business partnerships in the Middle East or anywhere in the world. There is not a single rupee in hand that has not been taxed. ED had checked all my bank accounts. Not even a single rupee of ill-gotten gains has been remitted. No one had sent money to my wife's or children's accounts", Jaleel added.