Kochi: M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, on Wednesday, after the High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea was produced before the Court, here on Thursday. The Court has given one week’s custody of Sivasankar to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials investigating the case, here on Thursday.
The ED produced Sivasankar before the Principal Sessions Court on Thursday seeking two weeks custody for further probe. Sivasankar’s counsel did not object to the custody petition by the ED in the Court. The ED, citing the reason for the arrest, informed the Court that Sivasankar has not been cooperating with the interrogation sessions. He was produced before the Court on Thursday - a public holiday on account of ‘Nabi Dhinam’ - during a special sitting.
Sivasankar informed the Court that the continuous questioning sessions had badly affected his health. Sivasankar requested to avoid continuous interrogations as he suffers from severe back pain due to disc problems. He also produced a medical certificate to prove that he suffers from back pain. Sivasankar’s counsel also sought the Court to consider his condition and provide the required medical aid for him.
Following this, the Court directed the ED officials to let him rest for one hour after interrogating continuously for 3 hours. The Court also directed the ED officials to ensure that he gets his medical treatment if necessary. The custody conditions included that he could be questioned only from 9 in the morning till 6 in the evening. Besides, the Court also directed the ED officials to provide Ayurveda treatment if necessary during the custody period.
The Court has also allowed Sivasankar’s wife, son and his brother to meet him during ED custody.
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