The Custody Of The Former Principal Secretary Kerala Extended

The custody of the former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala extended to date in the gold smuggling case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the money trail in the gold smuggling case.

ED has alleged that M. Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala and his team at the CMO, had full knowledge of the gold smuggling from the diplomatic channel.

The ED said that the former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala was fully aware of the smuggling.

The ED has claimed this in an affidavit submitted to the special court on the basis of the statement given by Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the sensational case. Has filed an affidavit in the special court.

Shivshankar was arrested on 28 October. After considering the ED’s request, the special court extended the detention till November 12.

In the sheet, the ED has said that Suresh has given a statement that Shivshankar and his team in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) were aware of gold smuggling from diplomatic channels.

The ED had questioned Suresh on Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram jail with the court’s permission. It also alleged that Rs 1 crore seized from the locker of the prime accused was for Shivshankar.

The investigating agency has filed an affidavit in the Special Courts for Prevention of Money Laundering Act ([PMLA)] seeking extension of Shivshankar’s custody and one day.

Shivshankar was arrested on 28 October. After considering the ED’s request, the special court extended the custody till 12 November.

‘ED argues CMO was involved in smuggling’

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of Opposition in Kerala Ramesh Chennithala said that the ED’s argument is proving that the Chief Minister’s Office was involved in gold smuggling.

He alleged that Shivshankar and Additional Private Secretary CM Ravindran were controlling the smuggling racket.