New Delhi: Delhi customs officials announced the arrest of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s former personal assistant, Shiv Kumar Prasad, at the Delhi IGI airport on Thursday. Prasad was apprehended with 500 grams of gold, according to customs sources. The arrest also involved another individual.

Prasad reportedly went to the airport to receive a passenger arriving from Dubai. Both were arrested while the passenger was handing over the gold to Prasad. Customs officials revealed that Prasad had an aerodrome entry permit card, allowing him access to airport premises, where he was caught receiving the gold packet.

The case is under investigation, and the credentials of those involved have been verified. Reacting to the news, Shashi Tharoor expressed his shock and clarified that Prasad had been providing part-time airport facilitation assistance. Tharoor emphasized that he does not condone any wrongdoing and supports the authorities in their investigation, stating, “The law must take its own course,” on X.

The BJP quickly responded, with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticizing the Congress and CPM, labeling them an “alliance of gold smugglers.” Chandrasekhar referred to this incident and a previous gold smuggling case involving a CM’s secretary, highlighting the political angle. Shashi Tharoor, a former Union minister, is currently the MP for Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's aide Shiv Kumar has been detained by customs in a case related to gold smuggling. More details are awaited: Sources pic.twitter.com/WMW22C8vVy

— IANS (@ians_india) May 29, 2024