KANNUR: The Customs has directed C Sajesh, appraiser of the Co-operative Bank and former CPM branch member, not to leave the Kannur district. It was Sajesh who gave the car to Arjun Ayanki, the leader of the gold smuggling quotation gang. Sajesh may be interrogated based on the information obtained from Arjun. It is also being investigated whether he handled the smuggled gold. Sajesh was expelled by the CPM yesterday. With suspicion looming over the gold appraiser of the party-controlled Koyyode Cooperative Bank, the CPM has found itself on the defensive. Meanwhile, CPM district secretary MV Jayarajan came out with a request not to drag the Co-operative bank into controversy.

With Arjun Ayanki proving to be a major player in gold smuggling, the investigating team suspects that more quotation teams in Kannur were involved in gold smuggling. It is learned that Customs will also question a few people close to Arjun. In its report, the Customs stated that only a tip of the iceberg has come out and that more people were involved in the crime.

CPM district secretary MV Jayarajan said that the party would not promote quotation politics in any way. "We are not afraid of any investigation as we have nothing to hide. Bank appraiser Sajesh was expelled since it was found that he had links with Arjun Ayanki. It is not right to put the cooperative institutions in the shadow of suspicion just because one employee was involved in such an activity," he said.