New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order allowing M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and accused in the Life Mission case, to undergo medical examination at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) argued in the Supreme court that Sivasankar does not have any serious health problems and that if the interim bail is extended, a medical report from a trustworthy institution is necessary. 

The SC had granted interim bail to Sivasankar for spinal surgery and treatment. Additional solicitor general K.M Nataraj who appeared for the ED said that since Sivasankar does not have any health problems at present, he should be directed to surrender. He added that if there are any health issues, Sivasankar should agree to undergo an examination at a reliable hospital to prove the same. 

The ED initially demanded that Sivasankar should undergo examination at AIIMS, Madurai. But Sivasankar’s lawyers pointed out in court that AIIMS Madurai is a hospital on paper and examination is not possible there. Following this, the ED suggested JIPMER as an alternative and the Supreme Court accepted the request. 

The SC adjourned the plea filed by Sivasankar seeking bail to be considered in the second week of January. The report of the medical examination must be submitted on this date, the court announced.