Kozhikode: Karipur gold smuggling case accused Abu Lais, against whom a COFEPOSA (Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) warrant is pending in Kerala, evaded arrest in Uttar Pradesh allegedly with the help of an officer in the ADGP rank in Kerala.
Lais, a native of Koduvally, landed in the police net while trying to return to Kerala via Kathmandu about 10 months ago. The ADGP directly contacted his UP counterparts and helped him walk free, it is learnt.
After the issuance of the look-out notice by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Lais reportedly visited Kerala thrice, in October 2016 and January and April this year. Each time, he traveled to the state via Kathmandu and managed to give the police the slip twice.
However, in last January, he was nabbed by the UP police while trying to cross the India-Nepal border.
Within hours of his arrest, an ADGP in Kerala contacted the UP police and pulled the strings for his release. It is learnt that the official intervened in the issue as per the directions of a senior CPM leader. Laiz reportedly showed the interrogators a couple of his photos captured in the mobile camera in which he was seen posing with the same leader.
The DRI also confirmed that he had visited Koduvally thrice during his absconding period. The agency had informed the authorities concerned about the covert visits of the accused in the Karipur gold smuggling case to their native places, but it was alleged that both the police and the secret wing of the force remained mute spectators.
Lais is the third accused in the gold smuggling case. He is believed to be a main link of the racket involved in smuggling in 39kg of gold through different airports in Kerala.
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