Kerala High Court Orders Time-Bound Trial in 2013 Gold Smuggling Case

The Kerala High Court has held that exoneration in departmental proceedings does not entitle an accused to exemption from criminal prosecution, while refusing to interfere with an order dismissing the discharge petitions filed in the 2013 gold smuggling case.

Justice A. Badharudeen, upholding the order of the Additional Special Court in Ernakulam, found that prima facie material existed against the accused. The court directed the special court to proceed with the trial without delay and to finalise the case within six months.

The petitioners had argued that no evidence linked them to the alleged offence and that a departmental inquiry had given them a clean chit. The High Court rejected the contention that the departmental finding could shield them from criminal proceedings.

According to the case put before the special court, the first accused, C. Madhavan, while working at the Air Cargo Complex and holding additional charge of the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs, is alleged to have used his official position to conspire with the other accused to smuggle gold into India through the Cochin International Airport.

The ruling clears the way for the trial to move forward before the special court.