Shock and Support for Investigation
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his shock after learning that a former member, Shiv Prasad, was caught at Delhi’s IGI Airport with gold worth ₹ 35 lakh. Tharoor willingly gave his support for the authorities’ investigation and stated he did not approve of any wrongdoing.
Incident Overview
While campaigning in Dharamshala, Tharoor posted on Twitter about this incident. This incident was a surprise to him and he mentioned that Shiv Prasad, a 72-year-old retiree working part-time for him who undergoes frequent dialysis, was detained by Customs officials at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport. Prasad was found with over 500 grams of gold and could not explain why he was carrying it.
Tharoor’s Statement
Tharoor stated that Prasad had been hired on compassionate grounds due to his health issues and frequent dialysis. He also extended his full support for the investigation and said that the law should take its course.
Detention Details
According to the source, Customs officials detained Shiv Prasad at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport on Wednesday. During a search, they found over 500 grams of gold. On enquiry, Prasad failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for carrying the gold resulting in detention by the Customs Officials.
Political Repercussions
Tharoor, a former Union Minister, is presently the MP for Thiruvananthapuram and is running against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Chandrasekhar criticized Tharoor and stated that both Congress and CPM are involved in gold smuggling. He called the two parties an “alliance of gold smugglers”.
Shashi Tharoor, currently the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, is focused on the investigation and ensures that the matter gets handled appropriately by the authorities. This incident has led to political debates ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
-Prisha Jaiswal