IAS Officer Accused in Gold Smuggling Case Allowed Sivasankar to Rejoin in Last Year of Service

· NIA Harassment Alleged, Officer Jailed for 3 months

Bureaucrat M Sivasankar, who was suspended for his alleged role in the gold smuggling case has rejoined service. He was the principal secretary to the chief minister at the time of his suspension.

However, the post to which Sivasankar might be assigned is still unclear. An order revoking the suspension was made by the state chief secretary on January 4 after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan approved an official recommendation. The officer has another one year left on his service.

Sivasankar was allegedly involved in the appointment of Swapna Suresh, the first accused in the gold smuggling case, in government projects reportedly by flouting rules. The investigation and protests further led to his suspension.

Sivasankar's suspension, which would have ended on July 2021, was extended for another six months as he was arrested in the gold smuggling case. He was in jail for 98 days and was later released on bail on February 4, 2021.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate and the Customs conducted separate investigations after seizure of gold worth Rs 15 crore from the diplomatic baggage of the UAE consulate at Thiruvananthapuram on July 2020. Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the consulate is the first accused in the case.