Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's former Principal Secretary M Sivasankar will remain suspended from service. He has been suspended from service for the third time. The state government had informed the Centre on extending Sivasankar's suspension.
Sivasankar was suspended after being named in the gold smuggling case registered by the Enforcement Directorate and Customs. According to the ED, he had allegedly helped Swapna Suresh, a key accused in the gold smuggling case. Swapna was offered a job at the IT department on Sivasankar's recommendation.
Sivasankar was suspended on July 16, 2020, on the basis of a report by a committee comprising the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of Finance.
Also read: Gold smuggling case: Kerala HC posts Swapna Suresh's bail plea to July 16
The government had recently constituted a Suspension Review Committee to re-examine Sivasankar's case. His second suspension period was due to end on July 16.
The state government can suspend an IAS officer if he is convicted in a criminal case. The suspension is for one year. After informing the Central Government the State Government can extend the suspension for another year.
Former IT secretary and senior IAS officer M Sivasankar was suspended from the post of principal secretary to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan last year on the basis of a report submitted by a committee headed by Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta. The suspension order came after the Opposition parties attacked the Pinatayi Vijayan-led Kerala government over Sivasankar's alleged connection with the gold smuggling case.
Also read: Kerala Gold Smuggling case: Former IT secy Sivasankar suspended
Sivasankar was questioned about his close connection with Sarith PS and Swapna Suresh, who have been named as the first and the second accused by Customs in the gold smuggling case and who are under the custody of investigation agencies. Additionally, Swapna Suresh was working under the IT department in which Sivasankar was the IT secretary.
