Kochi, Sep 17 (UNI) The grilling of Kerala Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the gold smuggling case, began at its office from 6 AM on Thursday.
Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had interrogated the Minister and it is mainly focused on the diplomatic baggage which is delivered on March four.
According to the Protocol Officer, no permission was granted to the diplomatic baggage for the last two days. NIA had also asked for more documents including ledger.
Following this, they decided to question the Minister.
The diplomatic baggage weighed 4478 kg and checked on what was inside after deducting the weight of the religious texts.
Mr Jaleel stated that he had no idea about protocol violation and that he made only official interaction with the consulate and the accused in the gold smuggling case Swapna Suresh.
Police force has been deployed in front of the NIA office and security was tightened in the area.
Meanwhile, opposition parties were staging widespread protests demandingthe resignation of the Minister due to the serious nature of charges against him.
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