Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: ED Takes CM Vijayan’s Former Secretary M Sivasankar Into Custody

In a fresh development in Kerala's high-profile diplomatic gold smuggling case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken into custody Kerala's Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan's former secretary M Sivasankar, reports Hindustan Times.

ED took Sivasankar into custody after the Kerala High Court today (28 October) rejected the bail plea of the suspended IAS officer. His bail plea had been opposed by both, the ED and the Customs who asserted that Sivasankar was aware of the smuggling activities of prime accused in the case, Swapna Suresh.

Sivasankar was taken into custody from an Ayurveda hospital where he was admitted. The Customs said that Sivasankar was pretending to be ill to escape grilling by the agencies in the smuggling case.

Meanwhile, Sivasankar has argued before the court that he has already been grilled by the agencies for 90 hours and nothing was found to implicate him in the case.

It should be noted that the ED has also accused Sivasankar of helping Suresh in money laundering.

The case came to light on 5 July when 30 kilograms of gold was seized by the Customs officials from a package veiled as a diplomatic consignment. The consignment was addressed to the UAE consulate in Kerala.