THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Intelligence found that Vishnu Somasundaram and Prakashan Thampy, friends of violinist Balabhaskar, smuggled nearly 200 kilos of gold. However, there is no proof for the two involved in the smuggling while Balabhaskar was alive. DRI said Prakashan Thampy got acquainted with customs superintendent introducing himself as Balabhaskar’s friend.

The DRI said the two who were Balabhaskar’s friends and troupe members are the main links of gold smuggling focusing in Thiruvananthapuram. The crucial information was obtained after questioning Vishnu. It was found that from November to May, Thampy had travelled to Dubai seven times and Vishnu 10 times. The carriers of the gold had also travelled with them.

The investigating team informed that their trip to Dubai was for the gold smuggling. Thampy had smuggled 60 kilos and Vishnu 150 kilos of gold in these trips. However, the gold smuggled was after the death of Balabhaskar. Before that they had gone to Dubai only a few times and so it is believed that they have not smuggled gold when the violinist was alive.

Customs superintendent Radhakrishnan in his statement to the DRI said Thampy introduced himself as violinist’s friend. Meantime, Vishnu was the one who controlled the smuggling along with advocate Biju. DRI said aides of Vishnu make all arrangements for the carriers in Dubai.