On Wednesday, Delhi Customs detained two individuals at Delhi airport for allegedly smuggling 500 grams of gold. One of those detained, Shiv Kumar Prasad, claimed to be the personal assistant of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, as reported by ANI.

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar responded to the news by criticizing the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), calling them an "alliance of gold smugglers." Chandrasekhar wrote on X, ?First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling. Now Cong MP 'aide'/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smuggler.?

Shiv Kumar Prasad was at Delhi Airport to receive a passenger arriving from Dubai. Both were arrested when the passenger attempted to hand over about 500 grams of gold to Prasad. Sources told ANI that Prasad had an aerodrome entry permit card allowing him access to the airport premises. He was detained along with the passenger when he received the packet.

Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, expressed his shock at the incident. He clarified that Prasad is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was working part-time for him, providing airport facilitation assistance. Tharoor stated, ?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,? in a post on X.