KOCHI: Customs has initiated action to collect a fine of Rs 66.60 crore from 44 accused including M Sivashankar and Swapna Suresh in the diplomatic channel gold smuggling case. The six accused including Swapna have been fined Rs 6 crore each. Shiv Shankar has been imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh. The accused in the case of smuggling dollars abroad under the Life Mission contract should also pay a huge fine. If the fine is not paid, their property will be confiscated.

The order was given by the Customs Preventive Commissioner in Kochi. The accused can file an appeal before the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal within three months.

Customs seized 30.245 kg of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5, 2020. The gold was delivered along with the diplomatic baggage to the UAE Consulate.

The case alleges that KT Rameez, Swapna Suresh, PS Sarith and Sandeep Nair, who were in the Middle East, smuggled gold through diplomatic channels. Customs found that 136 kg of gold was smuggled during 2019-2022.

6 crores for Swapna and 50 lakhs for Shivashankar

6 crore each: former employee of the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram Swapna Suresh, former PRO PS Sarith, smuggling masterminds Sandeep Nair, KT Rameez, former consul general Jamal Hussain Alzabi, former attache Rashid Khamis Al Ashmei

4 crores: Customs broker Kappithan Agencies

2.5 crores each: Faisal Farid, P Mohammad Shafi, E Syed Alavi, TM Samju

2 crores each: Rabins Hameed, Swapna Suresh's husband S Jayashankar

1.5 crore each: PT Abdu, TM Muhammad Anwar, AM Jalal, Muhammad Mansoor

One crore: Muhammad Shaheem

50 lakhs: M Sivashankar, former private secretary to the Chief Minister

Up to 2 lakhs: Other accused

Fine on dollar smuggling

65 lakh each to M Sivashankar, PS Sarith and Sandeep Nair, the main accused in the case of smuggling the bribe money of Life Mission contract. One crore to Santhosh Eapan, owner of Unitac, a Life Mission contractor. Rs 1.3 crore to Khalid Mohammadali Shoukry, an Egyptian national who was an accountant in the UAE Consulate.