Shashi Tharoor's aide arrested in gold smuggling case in Delhi
What's the story
Shiv Kumar Prasad, personal assistant to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, was arrested on Wednesday at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. The arrest was made by Delhi Customs officials in a gold smuggling case involving approximately 500gm of gold. Prasad had arrived at the airport to receive a passenger from Dubai and was detained when he attempted to receive a packet containing the gold.
Access
Access to airport premises facilitated arrest
Prasad's aerodrome entry permit card, which grants him access to airport premises, facilitated his arrest. He was apprehended while receiving a packet inside the airport. "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," sources informed ANI. The case is currently under investigation by officials who have verified the credentials of both individuals involved.
Criticism
BJP criticizes Congress and CPI (M) following detention
Following the arrest, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his views. He posted, "First CM Secy [M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and accused of gold smuggling] involved in Gold smuggling, now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM [Communist Party of India (Marxist)]and Cong...alliance of gold smugglers." Chandrasekhar is currently contesting against Tharoor in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.