Kerala HC rejects Sivasankar's bail plea in Life Mission case
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Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea filed by former Principal Secretary M. Sivasankar in the money laundering case related to alleged corruption in the LIFE (Livelihood, Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) Mission project, a housing project of the Kerala Government for the homeless.
Justice A. Badharudeen passed the order. Sivasankar, a top IAS officer before his retirement in end-January, was the principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during 2016-21.
Sivasankar soon after his retirement was asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in a bribery case related to the Life Mission project. After a few days of questioning his arrest was recorded on February 15, and since then he has been trying to get bail, but failed in the latest attempt as well.
The case pertains to the pet project of Vijayan, a housing project for the poor, being built at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district on government land with funds from UAE Red Crescent, a charity organisation. The money laundering case emanates out of alleged illegal gratification obtained for awarding the contract work for the project for building 140 housing units.
The allegations were levelled by Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case who is also accused in this case. Sivasankar has been under custody since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on February 14.
The ED strongly opposed the bail plea. The agency said in the court that since he is the kingpin in this case, he is likely to influence others and, hence, bail should not be given.
Sivasankar, however, pointed out that he has serious health issues and needs expert treatment. To this, the ED stated that all the arrangements were being made and they were ready to admit him for surgery, but he was not willing.
Incidentally, in this case, another former IAS official and the then chief executive of Life Mission, U.V. Jose was also questioned a few times by the ED and so was C.M. Raveendran, the assistant private secretary and the closest aide of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
With inputs from agencies
