THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Probe agencies have got several leads on other scams committed by Swapna through the investigation in the gold smuggling case. The first lead was received in the life mission project, which was intended to benefit many people who were reeling without proper housing. After this, she was found involved in importing thousands of Qurans and 17,000 kg of dates from abroad, without following due procedures of foreign protocol. Probe agencies suspect whether gold was smuggled under the garb of Quran and dates. More information was has come out when central agencies has started probing the dates import case.

Customs department has prepared a detailed plan of investigation over the distribution of 17,000 kg of imported dates. The department has also decided to question the Indian staff in the consulate. Customs will also grill IAS officers who cooperated with the consulate’s programme to distribute dates among the children in special schools and orphanages in Kerala. The department might also seek an explanation from the government in this regard.

The department has also sought information from the social welfare department about the orphanages and special schools where these dates were distributed. Meanwhile, the consulate has said that the dates were imported to Kerala in 2017 to give 250kg each to 40,000 children in connection with UAE consulate’s anniversary. In 2017 May, the programme of dates distribution was inaugurated by Chief Minister in the presence of UAE consulate general and Swapna Suresh. On that day, dates were distributed to children including those staying at Children’s home at Poojapura. After that, dates were not taken to the schools and other orphanages.

Swapna and her team told media that dates were distributed as a gift of the UAE ruler. But investigation shows that dates were not distributed even among 1,000 students. Meanwhile, high-quality dates were provided to certain VIPs and other big-shots in the government. Customs think that Swapna used those dates, which have a price of Rs 2,000 per kg, to forge links with those VIPs.

Swapna will be interrogated in detail to know among whom those dates were distributed. Customs also suspect whether gold was smuggled under the garb of dates. Dates were also found in the bag from where 30 kg of gold was seized by Customs in Thiruvananthapuram airport. Attache in his testimony given to the Customs has said that they were bought for his personal needs.