Umamageshwari Maruthapan
The Supreme Court has refused to stay the bail order granted by the Kerala High Court to suspended IAS Officer and expelled Principal Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, M. Sivashankar in a money laundering case alleged to be connected with the Gold Smuggling Case.
Sivashankar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after finding out his connection in the Gold Smuggling Case. The ED stated that the former principal secretary assisted Swapna Mohammad, the prime accused in the case, with respect to the transactions in the smuggling deal. It was also alleged that Sivashankar, who is also the head of the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL), had recommended a position for Swapna therein but was rejected due to ineligibility.
The Kerala High Court had granted bail to Sivashankar. Consequently, the ED moved the Top Court challenging the bail order.
“He was secretary of the Kerala government and had twice talked to custom officials, which is on record,” Additional Solicitor General S V Raju said who appeared for ED.
However, Advocate Gupta, Counsel for Sivashankar, stood firm that there is no involvement of the former secretary in this case.
After hearing both the parties, the Supreme Court Bench of Ashok Bhushan and R S Reddy refused to stay the bail order and posted the matter for hearing after six weeks.