Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was shocked to find that a former staff member had been apprehended at Delhi’s IGI Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold. Shiv Prasad, a part-time assistant to Tharoor, was apprehended with ₹35 lakh in gold.
Tharoor, who is now campaigning in Dharamshala, addressed the event on X (previously Twitter). He remarked, “I was surprised to learn about an event involving a former member of my staff who worked part-time as an airport facilitator. He is a 72-year-old retiree who is undergoing frequent dialysis and has been held on compassionate grounds. I do not condone any alleged misbehavior and completely back the authorities’ inquiry. The law must follow its course.”
According to sources, Prasad was detained by Customs officers at IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 on Wednesday after a search revealed he was carrying more than 500 grams of gold. During questioning, Prasad was unable to provide adequate answers for owning the precious metal.
Shashi Tharoor, a former Union Minister, is the current MP for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency and will face Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Chandrasekhar slammed Tharoor and the Congress party, claiming that they, along with the CPM, form a “alliance of gold smugglers.” He claimed on X, “First, the CM’s secretary was involved in gold smuggling, and now a Congress MP’s aide has been detained for gold smuggling.” CPM and Congress –are an alliance of gold smugglers.”
