New Delhi: Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor’s assistant was on Wednesday detained at the Delhi Airport for allegedly carrying gold beyond permissible limit from Dubai without required documents. The Customs Department officials on Wednesday detained him at the IGI Airport after Tharoor’s PA, identified as Shiv Kumar, was caught in possession of undeclared gold.

The Customs’ official seized the gold and launched a probe to ascertain the truth behind the recovered gold.

According to the sources, Shiv Kumar has been detained at the airport and has been asked to provide necessary documents of the gold. He is also being interrogated regarding the source of the gold recovered from him.

Sources claimed that the gold worth around Rs 30 lakh was recovered from Kumar, who arrived at the Delhi airport from Dubai on Wednesday morning. A total of 500 grams of gold has been recovered from their possession, reported ANI.  Further inquiry into the matter is underway.

Tharoor Responds 

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that he was shocked to hear about the incident, adding that the law should take its own course and proper investigation must be carried out by the respective agencies. “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,” said Tharoor in a post on X.