Try GOLD - Free
CBI rules out musician Balabhaskar's connection with gold smuggling ring
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
|December 17, 2024
AT one point, the parents of musician Balabhaskar alleged that a gold smuggling gang was involved in the suspicious death of their son in a car accident in September 2018.
The CBI's further investigation, however, has revealed that the smuggling by Balabhaskar's friends - Prakash Thampi and Vishnu Somasundaram - occurred between October of 2018 and May 2019, after his death.
Both the CBI and the DRI investigated the smuggling case from various angles but were unable to find any evidence linking Balabhaskar with the gang, or its connection to his death.
The CBI further stated that it did not find anything suspicious in Prakash holding on to Balabhaskar's mobile phone after the accident.
"The gold smuggling activities occurred after the death of Balabhaskar," the CBI report says.
The violinist and his daughter died in the accident when their car rammed a tree in Pallippuram, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, in the early hours of September 25.
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
Iranian students rally for second day amid war fears
Protests held at 5 universities in Tehran to commemorate those killed in previous crackdown as country braces for possibility of US attack
1 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF THE IT SECTOR MELTDOWN
NVESTING is all about finding the right price for an asset.
2 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
Govt razes Naxal memorials to stop regrowth of ideology
INDIA’S intensified campaign against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) has entered a decisive new phase, with security forees expanding their footprints beyond armed cadres by dismantling symbols associated with Naxal ideology.
1 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
THE CHINDIAN TALE
CHINESE New Year was last week on February 17, the dawning of the Year of the Fire Horse.
4 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
India delays negotiators' US visit amid tariff uncertainty
India, US trade negotiating teams were to begin talks in Washington on Monday
1 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
'Birla Opus entry has not hit margins'
NEARLY two years after the Aditya Birla Group entered the decorative paints market with Birla Opus, fears of a bruising price war appear to have receded.
1 min
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
Assam gets new hydro project in elephant area
A Union government-appointed committee has given the go-ahead for the diversion of 442 hectares of forest land for a 1500 MW closed-loop pumped storage project in Assam.
2 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
2 Punjab cops found dead near border checkpoint, Pak outfit claims ‘credit’
TWO Punjab Police cops who were on duty at a checkpoint near the Indo-Pakistan international border were found shot dead under “mysterious circumstances” on Sunday.
1 min
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
NMC admits stipend inequality exists for interns
AFTER five years, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has finally agreed that there is no stipend parity for undergraduate medical interns, whether they are studying in government or private medical colleges.
2 mins
February 23, 2026
The New Indian Express Thiruvananthapuram
‘India should lead in sovereign AI, put tech into users’ hands at scale’
WHEN it comes to building sovereign AI models in India, Sarvam AI has emerged as one of the key players.
2 mins
February 23, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size
