NEW DELHI: After the Delhi Customs detained two people, including one who claimed to be the personal assistant to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in a case of alleged gold smuggling, the Congress leader distanced himself from any alleged wrongdoing on Thursday and said that the law must take its own course.
Tharoor, in a post on X, said that the detained person is a former member of his staff who has been rendering part-time service to him. He also extended his support to the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action
“While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds”, the Congress MP posted on X.
While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 30, 2024
“I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action that may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course,” he added.
Earlier, Delhi Customs on Wednesday detained two people at the Delhi International Airport in a case of alleged gold smuggling. According to sources in Customs, one of the detainees identified himself as Shiv Kumar Prasad and claimed that he is the personal assistant to Shashi Tharoor.
Shiv Kumar Prasad had come to the Delhi Airport to receive a person who had arrived from Dubai. Both were arrested when the passenger was trying to hand over around 500 grams of gold to Prasad. “Prasad has the aerodrome entry permit card that allows him access to airport premises. He entered the airport premises and was receiving a packet when he was held along with the passenger”, the sources said.
The Customs authorities said that both Prasad and the passenger were detained and 500 gm of gold was recovered from their possession. The case is under investigation and their credentials have been verified, the sources added. (ANI)