Kerala Gold smuggling case: Customs quizzes M Sivasankar for 11 hours

The Customs department probing the Kerala gold smuggling case on Saturday questioned M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the chief minister, for 11 hours. The agency had questioned Sivasankar twice earlier after his alleged links with Swapna Suresh, prime accused in the gold smuggling, surfaced.

Kochi (Kerala): Customs Department questioned M Sivasankar former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister, for 11 hours on Saturday in connection with the gold smuggling case.

He left Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) after the interrogation. The Customs had already questioned him for 11 hours on Friday.

According to official sources, Sivasankar has been asked to appear before the agency again on October 13. He left the office at 10 pm after completing today's interrogation.

The agency had questioned Sivasankar twice earlier after his alleged links with Swapna Suresh, prime accused in the gold smuggling, surfaced.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which recently submitted a charge sheet in the Kerala gold smuggling case in a special (PMLA) court in Kochi, had said Sivasankar was a key person in the present government and his role has to be thoroughly investigated in the entire episode.

The Kerala gold smuggling case, which is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate, and the Customs department, pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels.

The matter had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5.

Several people, including two former employees of the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, Suresh and Sarith PS, have been arrested by the central agencies in connection with the case

With input from agencies