Political war breaks out between Centre, Kerala govt over gold smuggling case

Ahead of the Kerala assembly polls, a political row has broken out between the Centre and the Kerala govt over the gold smuggling case.

Pinayari Vijayan's govt decision to order a judicial inquiry against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for probing the gold scam has exploded into a political war.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Thiruvananthapuram, lashed out at the ruling Left Front govt calling the state govt's decision a challenge to the constitution and federal structure of India.

Meanwhile, the Kerala govt claimed that the Central agencies are being misused and called it a justification of its move to order a judicial probe.

Kerala gold smuggling case is being probed by the central agencies like NIA, ED and the customs after 30 kg gold worth over Rs 14 crore was found smuggled in a diplomatic consignment.