Kerala minister: Ready to face any probe over holy book consignment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala higher education minister KT Jaleel said he is ready for a probe, amid reports that the Union finance ministry directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe the alleged import of holy books, which formed part of kits distributed during the holy month of Ramzan, by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate.

Diplomatic experts raised the question of whether the minister could be charged under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act for receiving funds from a foreign country without the permission of the ministry of external affairs.

While investigating the Kerala gold smuggling case, in which 30 kilogrammes (kg) of gold was seized by the customs on July 5 from a diplomatic consignment, investigating agencies in March had stumbled upon another consignment at the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.

Later,it was found that this contained 31 bags comprising the holy book, meant for distribution in Jaleel’s constituency. The minister also said in July that he had accepted a sponsorship for food worth Rs 5 lakh from the Uaeconsulate to distribute as ‘zakat’.

“Let any agency probe it. I am least worried because I did not do anything wrong. Among 31 bags arrived, only one bag was opened. Anybody can examine them. I think distributing Quran is not a crime either,” Jaleel said.