Kerala gold smuggling case: IAS officer M Sivasankar got kickbacks, ED tells court

KOCHI: M Sivasankar, who was principal chief secretary to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan when alleged gold smuggling came to light, received kickbacks for the smuggling and from contractors of LIFE Mission projects through key accused Swapna Suresh, Enforcement Directorate (ED) has told the Kerala high court.
The senior IAS officer shared quotations likely to be quoted by two prospective bidders to LIFE Mission projects to Swapna even before the tender was opened.The kickbacks, including Rs1 crore seized from Swapna’s bank lockers, were received for Sivasankar for aiding gold smugglings and from the LIFE Mission projects, ED submitted. The IAS officer had contacted a Customs official and had also actively facilitated the smugglings using his influence, an affidavit filed by ED said while alleging that he was the mastermind behind the offences.
Responding to a bail application filed by Sivasankar, ED’s affidavit said Rs1 crore given by Khalid, finance head of UAE consulate, to Swapna was meant for Sivasankar. The IAS officer was aware of the kickbacks paid by Unitac Builders to Swapna, Khalid, and others in lieu of facilitating the contract from Red Crescent under the LIFE Mission project, the court was told.
Sivasankar shared confidential information with Swapna on KFON and LIFE Mission projects through WhatsApp. Quotations which are likely to be quoted by two potential bidders for LIFE Mission projects were shared before the tender was opened in January this year. Out of the 36 projects under LIFE Mission, 26 went to these two bidders. Though Sivasankar was not associated with LIFE Mission, he was the overall in-charge in his capacity as principal secretary to the chief minister. LIFE Mission CEO UV Jose has accepted that he met Santhosh Eappen of Unitac Builders on the insistence of Sivasankar. These show that kickbacks may have exchanged hands under other projects of LIFE Mission as well, ED submitted.
Sivasankar was in regular contact with Santhosh Eappen and wanted him to be a part of some contracts under KFON and LIFE Mission projects. Swapna has confirmed that Sivasankar was one of the beneficiaries of kickbacks, ED said.
Further, Swapna was involved in Smartcity projects in Kochi, which have been revived after being stalled for a long time due to her efforts. She has disclosed names of certain persons close to Sivasankar and one of them was involved in Taurus Downtown projects, the affidavit added.