Thiruvananthapuram: After the State assembly elections in 2016, when Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office as the Chief Minister of Kerala, M Shivasankar, IAS was appointed the Chief Minster’s Secretary. Shivasankar also appointed as the IT secretary, a subordinate position which was handled by the CM bypassing many other senior IAS officers.
Among the lot, including Nalini Netto Chief Secretary, Loknath Behra DGP, Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas and Secretary Shivasankar, who were all the CM’s trusted officers, the latter was the most prominent.
Shivasankar turned to be a bridge between the Chief Minister and all the other officers. He used to accompany the Chief Minister in all his official trips. He became even stronger after being entrusted with the key role of planning the four missions which were the Chief Minister’s dream projects.
Amid all these, the CM’s office was on defence following allegations from the opposition leader regarding Transgrid, K- Fon, E Mobility and Brewery issues. However, Shivasankar was nowhere in the scene in those allegations. Even while the opposition leader claimed that the files for all these deals were readied in the Chief Minister’s office, Shivasankar remained in the oblivion.
With the Sprinkler allegations and controversies, Shivasankar came out with a response taking up the responsibility of the contract himself. He had then stated to the media that he had given the contract to Sprinkler on his personal capacity.
Also read: Gold smuggling case: ED arrests Kerala CM's close aide
The incident of passing on the health data of COVID patients to an American company had triggered friction between the second major ally in the ruling front, CPI. The CPI had alleged that passing on the data without even discussing it in the cabinet-level meeting was a violation of protocol and procedures.
Soon thereafter, customs intervened in the case of gold smuggling through diplomatic baggage channel at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The telephone conversation of Shivasankar with the key accused in the case was revealed, leading the investigating agencies to close in on him.
Though Principal Secretary Shivasankar was defended by the Chief Minister initially, he was suspended from the service on July 17 based on the accusations on his alleged involvement in the gold smuggling case.
Later, Shivasankar was continuously interrogated by the Central investigation agencies. As there were hints that the agencies plan to arrest him, Shivasankar had moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail, but in vain. Subsequently, there were allegations that the former IT secretary got hospitalised on the pretext of chest pain to evade arrest. However, his hopes of not getting arrested were dashed when the High Court rejected his anticipatory bail move.
Within minutes after the High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea by Shivasankar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials reached Thriveni Ayurveda Hospital in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram where he was being treated for backache and took him into custody.
M Shivasankar, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, is a highly meritorious IAS officer academically. He was a second rank holder in SSLC examinations. After graduating from Palakkad NSS Engineering College, Shivasankar had completed Post Graduate Diploma in management and joined the Reserve Bank of India as an officer.
Also read: Boiler blast in TN: SC refuses to entertain plea challenging NGT order
He then took up the role of a Deputy Collector with the State Government. He was conferred an IAS in 1995. He has served in the roles of the Malappuram District Collector, Secretary to the Public Works department, Director of State Tourism, Director of Public Education, Secretary to the Sports Department and Chairman of the State Electricity Board and has handled other important positions in his career.
Working with the different governments in Kerala, Shivasankar slowly bonded with the political leaderships. Regardless of the political differences, Shivasankar was a trusted officer for both LDF and UDF governments in Kerala.
It is the same connection with the political leadership that took him to the role of a Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, while still bypassing many other deserving senior IAS officers. His previous SFI connections from his days at Palakkad NSS college had also helped. Finally, Shivasankar has been arrested by the ED officials in the case of gold smuggling through diplomatic baggage channel, which is being discussed all over India. Shivasankar’s fall is not a temporary one, but a permanent fall.
