38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Judiciary

Kerala HC commands ED not to arrest Sivasankar until 23 October 2020 in Money Laundering Case

By Atharwa Gauraha      16 October, 2020 01:36 PM      0 Comments
Money Laundering Gold Smuggling

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 15, 2020) directed the Enforcement Directorate not to arrest M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, till October 23 in a money laundering case. The case was registered by the ED in connection with the abuse of diplomatic channels to smuggle gold.

On a petition filed by the IAS officer requesting anticipatory bail, the court passed the interim directive. SV Raju, Additional Solicitor General of India, who appeared on behalf of the ED, said that Sivasankar had not been involved in the case to date. His fear of an ED arrest was, in fact, ill-founded. This was a significant case involving the smuggling of gold worth a large sum and it was not possible to rule out the involvement of powerful persons in the case.

Sivasankar 's attorney stated that the ED had sent him a notice directing him to produce a photo of the passport and a copy of the Aadhar card in person or via an approved person on October 14, which he did. Subsequently, the ED gave him another notice warning him that failure to appear before the inquiry would be viewed as non-cooperation. The prosecutor argued that the department had unnecessarily threatened the complainant. The petitioner was willing to cooperate with the investigation and he did not have any intention to flee from the clutches of law.

In response to the anticipatory bail petition, the court also directed the ED to file a detailed affidavit, posting the case on October 23. 

In the bail petition, Sivasankar claimed that in connection with the smuggling case, the ED had filed a charge sheet before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, leveling groundless allegations against him.

 Although the petitioner was questioned by various agencies for more than 90 hours, no incriminating evidence could be obtained by them to implicate him in the case.

The petitioner added that he held the main government post and had the ability to contact the Consulate General in relation to his duties. Although working as secretary to the UAE Consulate General, he had met an acquaintance with the prime defendant, Swapna Suresh. Indeed, the petitioner only became aware of Swapna and her friends' involvement in the gold smuggling case after the consignment had been confiscated by the Customs, he stated.

 



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email