Kerala: The Underworld Connection

In a shocking revelation by a section of media in Kerala, it has been found that staff members of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy have been maintaining close relationships with the underworld. T K Faiz who was arrested in New Delhi a few days back in connection with gold smuggling was in regular contact with Chief Minister’s Private Secretary Jikumon Jacob. Faiz a notorious smuggler and kingpin in human trafficking had called Jikumon Jacob through his mobile phone just before his arrest in Delhi. He has now confessed to the CBI officers that he made a call to Chief Minister’s Additional Private Secretary R K Balakrishnan while he was trying to escape. More information about Chief Minister’s contact with Faiz is also circulating in the media.

Details of Jikumon’s trip to Dubai with Faiz have also come to light. Officers from Customs and Central excise and CBI have started interrogating Faiz. Jikumon was also involved in the solar scam but no case was registered against him. While answering a query in a press conference Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, did not deny the allegations.

Thondantavida Faiz (40) heads a hawala racket which smuggled gold valued at 100 crores through various Airports including the Kochi and Chennai airports in the last few months.  Faiz was caught following the confession of two lady carriers who were caught at the Koch Airport while trying to smuggle 2 kilograms of gold.

It is believed that during the interrogation Faiz confessed his close relationship with senior congress leaders including KPCC Vice President M M Hassan and General Secretary Shooranad Rajashekharan. Various KPCC office bearers have travelled abroad with Faiz.

In the meanwhile CBI has registered cases against two customs officers who helped Faiz and the FIR will be submitted to the court on Thursday. CBI also conducted raids in the residents of C Madhavan Deputy Commissioner of Customs preventive unit and P P Suni Kumar, preventive officer.

September 26, 2013