M Sivasankar | Photo: Binu Lal G/ Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Senior IAS officer and sports and youth affairs department principal secretary, M Sivasankar, retired on Tuesday.
Sivasankar, who was the principal secretary to the chief minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government, faced allegations, legal proceedings and jail time in relation to the controversial diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case.
Sivasankar visited CM Pinarayi the previous day. During his visit, the officer pointed out that a file regarding the sports policy has been pending before the chief minister for the last seven months.
The CM gave immediate approval to the policy and instructed to consider the draft policy in the next Cabinet meeting.
Sivasankar had cancelled the farewell event by the IAS association. On Tuesday, he was given a farewell by the public administration department at the chief secretary’s office.
The final years of his professional life were marred with controversies including the gold smuggling case. He was suspended after being jailed in the gold smuggling case. After he returned to the service, Sivasankar was given the charge of the sports and youth affairs department.
His request for voluntary retirement was declined by the government. He also penned a book about his experience during the investigation into the gold smuggling case.