Gold smuggling case: Kerala minister Jaleel questioned by NIA, Opposition intensifies protests

The Opposition Congress and the BJP stepped up protests across Kerala, hours after KT Jaleel, state minister for higher education and minority welfare, appeared before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials in Kochi in connection with alleged FCRA violation and the probe into the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case.

Jaleel arrived in a private car belonging to a former CPM MLA around 6 am Thursday at the NIA office in Kochi purportedly to dodge the local media which has been following the minister’s movements for the past few days. The questioning is underway as of 1 pm, with no statements yet from either the minister’s office or the NIA officials.

Meanwhile, protests led chiefly by the Congress and the BJP flared up across Kerala, calling for Jaleel’s resignation. At several places in Palakkad, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kottayam and Kannur districts, members of the Youth Congress, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha and KSU (student outfit of Congress) clashed with the police as they took out marches to government offices.