Kerala High Court tells Customs not to arrest Sivasankar

The High Court directed the Customs Department to submit a detailed affidavit on the matter before October 23. Sivasankar informed the High Court that the Customs Department attempted to arrest him despite his health deterioration.

Thiruvananthapuram:The High Court in Kerala has ordered the Customs Department not to arrest M Sivasankar, IAS officer, till October 23 in connection with Kerala Gold Smuggling Case. Sivasankar had sought anticipatory bail in the case registered by the Customs on Monday.

The former Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also made grave allegations against Customs Department. The High Court directed the Customs Department to submit a detailed affidavit on the matter before October 23. Sivasankar informed the High Court that the Customs Department attempted to arrest him despite his health deterioration.

He further added that the Customs Department's actions were not Constitutionally valid and they conspired to arrest him on Friday. He complied for the 90 hours interrogation by the department and expressed willingness for further investigation. Even though he had no connection with the case, he said that he was forced to commute in the Customs Department's car like a criminal.

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The officials even attempted to discharge him from the hospital and amidst the political game he was victimised, Shivasankar told the High Court. However, the Customs Department denied his allegations and stated that they will produce evidence against Sivasankar before the court.

Last week, the High Court prevented Enforcement Directorate from arresting him on Friday. The two anticipatory bail applications would be reconsidered on Friday in the High Court.

Sivasankar was admitted to a private hospital in Karamana following physical discomforts and sickness on October 16. In the angiogram tests conducted on Saturday, it was found that he did not have any cardiac problems. His blood pressure was also found to be normal. However, the doctors had advised him to undergo treatment for back pain he had been suffering owing to the disc problems.