Former aide of Shashi Tharoor caught 'smuggling' gold at Delhi airport

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday (May 30) reacted to a report stating his personal assistant Shiv Kumar was detained at the Delhi airport for smuggling 500 grams of gold, saying the law must take its own course.

The Congress MP said Kumar is a former member of his staff, he was employed part-time with him to provide airport facilitation assistance.

Tharoor further saidthe 72-year-old was employed with him on sympathetic grounds because he had been undergoing frequent dialysis.

However, he clarified that he doesn't condone any wrongdoing.

"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. I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course," Tharoor wrote on X.

Earlier on Wednesday eveningpersonal assistant Shiv Kumar was arrested by Customs at Delhi airport for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai, according to sources.

According to sources, Customs arrested Shiv Kumar from IGI airport while taking possession of 500 grams of gold brought from Dubai by one of his acquaintances.

The Customs also seized the gold worth around Rs 30 lakh ($35,962) and launched an investigation to determine the origins and authenticity of the recovered gold.

Both Kumar and the passenger who had brought the gold from Dubai, have been arrested.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to X and said, "First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling, now Congress MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers."

(With inputs from agencies)