Thiruvananthapuram: NIA is likely to question M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, after his nexus with gold smugglers has been widely reported.
It is surmised that the culprits met and conspired at the flat near the secretariat where Sivasankar stayed.
Customs has collected evidence regarding this; however, investigators can’t yet confirm Sivasanker’s direct link to smuggling.
Evidence revealing Sivankar’s close contact with the prime accused Sandeep Nair and Sarith has also been collected.
Both visitors’ and vehicle register at the flat have given away this. It is also found that the four including Sivasankar had gathered at several places.
Sarith stated that they had discussions at Sivasanker’s flat in Thiruvananthapuram. The trio often visited the place in the absence of Sivasanker.
Customs suspect that smugglers used Sivansanker’s official position for their personal ends.
Customs already had received tip off on their ( Swapan Suresh, Sandeep and Sarith) usual visit to the apartment opposite to the Secretariat.
Based on this, customs officials confiscated vehicle and visitors’ register at the flat. Customs will take the statement of Sivanskar to know if he misused his position to help smuggling of gold.