Kerala: Customs arrests Sivasankar in gold smuggling case

The move by the Customs came days after Sivasankar moved the Kerala High Court seeking bail in the ED case after the Special Court for PMLA cases here rejected his application for regular bail on November 17.

The Customs, which is probing a case relating to smuggling of gold through diplomatic cargo, on Tuesday arrested M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the Kerala Chief Minister. The suspended senior IAS officer has been in judicial custody after the Enforcement Directorate arrested him on October 28 in connection with alleged money laundering involved in the smuggling.

In the application submitted in the district sessions court in Ernakulam, the Customs said they have been able to get “direct incriminating materials against Sivasankar of his involvement and being concerned in the smuggling of gold”. The officials recorded his arrest at the district jail in Ernakulam, where he has been lodged. Sivasankar was arrested two days before the court is slated to consider his bail plea in the ED case. The Customs on Wednesday would seek his custody for 10 days.

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