The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister, on a plea of Enforcement Directorate against the High Court’s decision to grant bail to him in connection with the gold smuggling case.
A bench presided over by Justice Ashok Bhushan sought a response of Sivasankar and posted the matter for hearing after six weeks.
The ED, for its part, sought a stay on the High Court's order. The bench, however, said there is no need to stay as he is already out.
The ED, which probed the money laundering angle in the case, has approached the top court against High Court's order, claiming Sivasankar was an influential person and his release would hamper the investigation into the case.
Sivasankar was arrested on October 28, 2020, after Kerala High Court had rejected his anticipatory bail petition.
The case relates to the smuggling of gold through diplomatic channels in Kerala. It had come to light after 30 kg of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019.
Besides the ED, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Customs Department are all investigating the case.
Published 05 March 2021, 08:00 IST
