The NIA is learnt to have summoned M. Sivasankar, former Kerala IT secretary and principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, to its headquarters in Kochi for a second round of questioning in the gold smuggling case. The senior IAS officer was earlier interrogated for five hours on Thursday.
Sivasankar would be questioned along with Swapna Suresh and Sarith, the two accused in the gold smuggling case. It was Sivasankar's close links with Swapna that had given a political twist to the case, with the CMO getting dragged into the issue. Sivasankar is learnt to have admitted that he knew Swapna through her husband who is a relative of his. But he insisted that he had no idea about her involvement in gold smuggling.
A source in the state police, however, told The WEEK that the second summons need not mean that Sivasankar has been found guilty. “It is part of any investigation to cross-examine all involved in various means and ways. NIA may question him in the presence of other accused at their headquarters,'' he said.
There will be more clarity on the issue by Monday, he added.
Swapna and Sarith had, apparently, given contradictory statements regarding Sivasankar's involvement. While the former had denied the former top official in the state government had anything to do with the case, Sarith had apparently given statements suggesting his indirect involvement. Call records of Swapna had proved that he had called Sivasankar after the 'diplomatic luggage' addressed to the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram was confiscated by the Customs. However, it could not be ascertained whether Sivasankar had intervened to help Swapna.
The LDF government, which is on the backfoot because of Sivasankar's alleged involvement, had removed him from all the posts soon after the case was reported. He was also suspended pending inquiry after a committee headed by the chief secretary submitted a report which said that Sivasankar's frequent contacts with Swapna, who was then a staff of a foreign consulate, violated All India Service Conduct Rules.
The opposition, however, has upped the ante against the government over the issue. Demanding the resignation of the CM, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the involvement of CMO in the smuggling case is clear and CM Vijayan should tender his resignation. “It is shameless to continue in power when the involvement of his principal secretary in the smuggling case is clear,'' Chennithala said.
He also alleged that Sivasankar was handpicked by the CM himself and that he had protected the IAS officer, despite many lapses on his part.
However, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the NIA questioning Sivasankar will not affect the image of the government. “The state's former CM Oommen Chandy was questioned by the judicial commission for hours during his tenure. Did he resign over that?'' Balakrishnan said, responding to Chennithala's demand for Vijayan's resignation.
