Former Kerala Chief Secy Moves SC Against Shifting Of Case By ED

M Sivasankar, Former principal secretary to the Kerala chief minister and an accused in a money laundering case related to gold smuggling through the UAE consulate in 2020 filed an objection petition in the Supreme Court.

The petition was filed against the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s endeavor to transfer the case out of the state to Bengaluru. The senior bureaucrat, stated and requested the court not to take any action on the ED petition to shift the case without him being heard out in detail. He mentioned that ED's move was politically-motivated and it was not improper to shift the case to another state after the charge sheet having been filed. The state government's decision on this is still awaited.

ED had petitioned the Apex Court last week and averred that deliberate attempts to weaken the case were being made. The Kerala police case against ED officials and a judicial commission against the central agency was also mentioned.

ED also underlined the recent statement of prime accused Swapna Suresh under Section 164 of Cr.P.C.. In that statement she made serious allegations against the CM and his family members. The central agency said it wants to shift the case to Bengaluru for a speedy trial.

The case related to the gold smuggling case was registered in 2020 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. M. Sivasasankar is the fourth accused in the case. The gold smuggling came to light on July 5, 2020, when the customs seized 30 kg of gold concealed in bathroom fittings in one of the consignments, camouflaged as diplomatic baggage that came in the name of the UAE consulate in the state capital.

P S Sarith, a fomer employee of the consulate, who had come to receive the consignment, was arrested the same day. A week later, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Swapna and her accomplice Sandeep Nair from their hideaway in Bengaluru. Therafter, Sivasankar’s alleged collusion with Suresh came to light. Subsequently, the government suspended him and three months later he was arrested by central agencies. After his release, his suspension was revoked. The former bureaucrat was taken back into government service in January this year.

In the case filed by the Customs, Sivasankar is the 29th accused. Since the gold consignment was found camouflaged in diplomatic baggage it was exempted from inspection as per the Vienna Convention. In the charge sheet, customs alleged that the gang smuggled around 180 kg of gold between November 2019 and June 2020 through the consulate.