Congress leader Shashi Tharoor clarified that the individual detained in a gold smuggling case at Delhi airport was a former member of his staff who was providing part-time airport facilitation services. Tharoor emphasized that he does not condone any alleged wrongdoing.
Shiv Kumar Prasad, one of two people detained at Delhi airport on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling 500 grams of gold, claimed to be Tharoor’s assistant.
In a post on X, Tharoor explained that Prasad is a “72-year-old retiree” undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained part-time on compassionate grounds.
“While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance,” Tharoor tweeted. “I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its course,” he added.
Shiv Kumar Prasad was at the Delhi airport to receive a passenger arriving from Dubai. Both were detained when the passenger was handing over the gold to Prasad.
“Prasad has an aerodrome entry permit card that allows him access to airport premises. He entered the airport premises and received a packet when he was held along with the passenger,”
The BJP quickly attacked Tharoor, claiming that the CPM and the Congress formed an “alliance of gold smugglers.”
“First CM sexy involved in gold smuggling. Now Cong MP ‘aide’/PA detained for gold smuggling. CPM and Cong – both INDI alliance partners – the alliance of gold smuggler,” Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted.
In 2020, around 30 kg of gold was seized by customs at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport from M Sivasankar, the then principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
