Kerala, India: On April 13, the Kerala High Court dismissed former Principal Secretary to Kerala’s Chief Minister M Sivasankar’s bail application in the money laundering case related to the LIFE Mission Project.
Sivasankar approached the High Court after the Special PMLA Court at Kochi rejected his bail application on March 2 and extended his custody till March 21. He alleged that his arrest was a ‘political stunt’ and claimed that there was no direct allegation against him. He alleged that the entire case is a ‘political hit job by the Enforcement Directorate’ due to his professional privity with Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Furthermore, he challenged the Special Court’s approach wherein it relied upon documents ED furnished in three sets of sealed covers. He also urged for bail on medical grounds.
The money laundering case pertains to the alleged illegal gratification received in exchange for awarding the construction contract for building 140 housing units under the LIFE Mission Project for the poor who lost their shelter in the 2018 floods, utilising the funds donated by the UAE Red Crescent and the land provided by the Kerala Government.
It is pertinent to note that Santhosh Eapan, the managing director of UNITAC, the construction firm selected for the construction of the houses under the LIFE Mission project had informed ED that the firm paid a bribe worth Rs 4.48 crore to Sivasankar and certain officials at the UAE Consulate, including Swapna Suresh, for the project.
The ED said, “A conspiracy was hatched by the Consulate employees with active support of M. Sivasankar, then Pr. Secretary to the Chief Minister to generate commission as bribe from the funds donated by Red Crescent by awarding the LIFE Mission project to M/s Unitac Builders and Developers and M/s Sane Ventures LLP run by Santhosh Eappen. From the funds received from UAE Red Crescent, Santhosh Eappen had arranged an upfront commission as bribe for UAE Consulate Officials and Kerala Government Officials by withdrawing money from the bank accounts of the companies of Santhosh Eappen, which is also admitted by him,” in its press release dated March 23, 2023.
The Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan opposed Sivasankar’s bail application and submitted that Sivasankar is the kingpin who orchestrated money laundering and bribery since the beginning. Furthermore, the counsel submitted that he could impede the investigation if released on bail.
Furthermore, it is pertinent to note that Sivasankar is also an accused in the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case wherein the Customs and Preventive Commissionerate seized 30 kgs of gold from diplomatic cargo. The consignment worth Rs 15 crore was sent by air cargo at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram. He was arrested in October 2020 and underwent custody until the High Court granted him bail in January 2021 in the case.
The former Principal Secretary was found in regular touch with accused Swapna Suresh based on call records.
