Kerala gold smuggling case accused Sarith says Sivasankar knew about scam: Reports

The key accused in the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case, Sarith has told the NIA that former IT secretary Sivasankar was aware of the gold smuggling  

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala gold smuggling case accused Sarith has told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the suspended former state IT secretary M Sivasankar was aware about the scam, according to reports.

Reports added that Sarith has had a close contact with Sivasankar for years. He added that through another accused Jalal he sold the smuggled gold.

He also said that he had transported gold through another accused Swapna Suresh's official vehicle. Sarith added that Faisal Fareed, one more accused, had worked with him.

At the same time, Sivasankar had told that he had just arranged the flat for the accused and he doesn't have any links or role in the gold smuggling case.

On July 16, former principal secretary to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former IT secretary Sivasankar was suspended from service.

Vijayan said in a press conference that Sivasankar violated All India Service rules and added that the departmental probe against him will continue.

Vijayan had appointed a two-member committee to investigate Sivasankar’s role in the Kerala gold smuggling case. The panel also examined allegations regarding the appointment of Swapna in a state government department’s project.