Kerala govt likely to reinstate CM's ex-aide & gold smuggling accused Sivasankar: Sources

In a key development on Monday, sources told Republic TV that the Kerala government is likely to reinstate M Sivasankar who served as the Principal Secretary to CM Pinarayi Vijayan. This assumes significance amid the LDF's historic win in the recently concluded Assembly election after facing flak from the opposition in connection with the gold smuggling scam.

As the suspension period of the gold scam accused has expired, the Public Administration Department sought the advice of the Chief Minister's Office for further action, sources revealed. At present, this file is under the consideration of the Kerala CMO. 

Sivasankar's arrest in Kerala gold smuggling case

On July 5, 2020, Customs officials seized 30 kg of gold worth Rs.15 crore at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport from a diplomatic cargo addressed to a person in the UAE Consulate. Sarith PS, who worked at the UAE Consulate was arrested in this regard. On July 16, 2020, Vijayan announced the suspension of Sivasankar pending the departmental inquiry. It was reportedly found that he had violated the All-India Services Conduct rules due to his connections with Sarith and Swapna Suresh, the accused in the gold smuggling case. 

The neighbours of Swapna Suresh have reportedly seen Sivasankar visiting her house quite often which was allegedly used for planning smuggling operations. According to sources, he was initially questioned by the Customs about the appointment of Suresh, her dubious education certificates and her role in the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited. Meanwhile, Republic TV learnt that Arun Balachandran, who help the gold smuggling accused to obtain a flat opposite the state secretariat, was removed from his post in the state government on the instruction of Sivasankar.

However, a WhatsApp chat accessed by the authorities indicates that Sivasankar had himself asked Balachandran to arrange for the flat. As per the ED, Sivasankar asked Suresh and his Chartered Accountant Venugopal to open a joint locker where the proceeds of crime are believed to have been stored. After the Kerala HC rejected the suspended bureaucrat's anticipatory bail plea on October 28, he was arrested by the ED in connection with the gold smuggling case.

While the agency got his remand on three occasions, Sivasankar was finally sent to judicial custody on November 12. Subsequently, the Customs department arrested him in connection with the gold smuggling case on November 24. While he was granted bail in the gold smuggling case registered by the ED as well as the Customs on January 25, he remained in custody owing to his arrest in the dollar smuggling case. He finally walked free on February 3 after being granted relief in this case.