THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned former IT Secretary M Sivasankar in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case.
Sivasankar is being questioned at the Police Club in Peroorkada. NIA officials had served him with a notice about the interrogation on Thursday.
Earlier the Customs earlier interrogated Sivasankar for nine hours for having link with the case.
He was earlier removed as Principal Secretary and later as the IT Secretary by Chief Minister’s Office for having connection with accuse Swapna Suresh and Sarith Nair.
Even call records had been leaked by unknown sources indicated that some of the key accused in the case had contacts with the senior IAS officer.
Call records show several calls purportedly made by Sarith, one of the key accused, to Mr Sivasankar. He has also been linked to another key accused, Swapna Suresh, by the opposition.
The two – Sarith and Swapna – were earlier employed by the UAE consulate.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who earlier denied allegations that his office shielded any of the accused, today told the media: “There is a probe which is going on. They can go anywhere and question anyone in connection to this case… why are you all getting worried?”
Demanding the resignation of Chief Minister, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala earlier said Mr Vijayan must be questioned in the case because of the alleged involvement of his office.
Today, BJP state president K Surendran tweeted: “The questioning of M Shivasankar, former Prl Secretary to @vijayanpinarayi is no doubt an important step in the #KeralaGoldSmuggling case. This proves the charge of the @BJP4Keralam that CMO is involved in this gold smuggling & related anti national acts.#ResignKeralaCM “.
