<p>Kerala Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel was reportedly quizzed by NIA in connection with his suspected links with the Kerala gold smuggling case accused.</p>.<p>It was learnt that Jaleel, as summoned by the NIA, reached their office in Kochi at around 6 am on Thursday. The wee hours of the day may have been opted to avert media attention and protests. Jaleel also used a private car to go to the NIA office. By around 5 pm he left the NIA office in the same car under tight police cover. Evading the attention of the media which was trying to track his movement, Jaleel changed the vehicle in between and was learnt to be proceeding to Thiruvananthapuram. Tight police protection is being provided in view of the widespread protest against him.</p>.<p>Jaleel was quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate in Kochi last week. The state has been witnessing violent stirs by various opposition parties demanding his resignation.A Congress MLA, V T Balaram, suffered injuries in the police action. But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan continued backing Jaleel.</p>.<p>Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that it was for the first time that a state minister was being quizzed by an agency probing into terrorism-related cases and hence the government has no moral right to continue. </p>.<p>The main allegation against Jaleel pertained to his involvement in accepting diplomatic baggage from UAE Consulate that contained Qurans and distributed it to various parts of state using a Kerala government agency's vehicle. But there were allegations that the gold was smuggled using this baggage as well. Jaleel also accepted Ramadan relief food kits worth Rs 5 lakh from UAE Consulate for distribution.</p>.<p>While the details of Jaleel's questioning were yet to be known, sources close to Jaleel maintained that his statement was recorded as a witness. The Customs may also record his statement soon.</p>.<p><strong>CM's clean chit to Jaleel; Muslim League flayed for attacking minister for distributing Quran</strong></p>.<p>Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reaffirmed his support to Jaleel and also flayed the Indian Union Muslim League, a key coalition partner of the Congress, for attacking Jaleel for distributing Quran.</p>.<p>Vijayan said that he already made in clear that Jaleel did nothing illegal and he still firmly believed so. There was no need for Jaleel to resign, he added.</p>.<p>Jaleel did not demand the Quran or relief kit from the UAE Consulate. Those were not smuggled but reached through a proper channel. Jaleel's help for distributing Quran and Ramadan relief kits was sought as he was in charge of Minority Affairs, Hajj and Wakf in the state.</p>.<p>Vijayan also flayed the widespread protests flouting the Covid-19 social distancing norms. Cases were registered against two Congress MLAs also for flouting social distancing norms, he said.</p>
<p>Kerala Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel was reportedly quizzed by NIA in connection with his suspected links with the Kerala gold smuggling case accused.</p>.<p>It was learnt that Jaleel, as summoned by the NIA, reached their office in Kochi at around 6 am on Thursday. The wee hours of the day may have been opted to avert media attention and protests. Jaleel also used a private car to go to the NIA office. By around 5 pm he left the NIA office in the same car under tight police cover. Evading the attention of the media which was trying to track his movement, Jaleel changed the vehicle in between and was learnt to be proceeding to Thiruvananthapuram. Tight police protection is being provided in view of the widespread protest against him.</p>.<p>Jaleel was quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate in Kochi last week. The state has been witnessing violent stirs by various opposition parties demanding his resignation.A Congress MLA, V T Balaram, suffered injuries in the police action. But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan continued backing Jaleel.</p>.<p>Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that it was for the first time that a state minister was being quizzed by an agency probing into terrorism-related cases and hence the government has no moral right to continue. </p>.<p>The main allegation against Jaleel pertained to his involvement in accepting diplomatic baggage from UAE Consulate that contained Qurans and distributed it to various parts of state using a Kerala government agency's vehicle. But there were allegations that the gold was smuggled using this baggage as well. Jaleel also accepted Ramadan relief food kits worth Rs 5 lakh from UAE Consulate for distribution.</p>.<p>While the details of Jaleel's questioning were yet to be known, sources close to Jaleel maintained that his statement was recorded as a witness. The Customs may also record his statement soon.</p>.<p><strong>CM's clean chit to Jaleel; Muslim League flayed for attacking minister for distributing Quran</strong></p>.<p>Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reaffirmed his support to Jaleel and also flayed the Indian Union Muslim League, a key coalition partner of the Congress, for attacking Jaleel for distributing Quran.</p>.<p>Vijayan said that he already made in clear that Jaleel did nothing illegal and he still firmly believed so. There was no need for Jaleel to resign, he added.</p>.<p>Jaleel did not demand the Quran or relief kit from the UAE Consulate. Those were not smuggled but reached through a proper channel. Jaleel's help for distributing Quran and Ramadan relief kits was sought as he was in charge of Minority Affairs, Hajj and Wakf in the state.</p>.<p>Vijayan also flayed the widespread protests flouting the Covid-19 social distancing norms. Cases were registered against two Congress MLAs also for flouting social distancing norms, he said.</p>
