Cover of the book
Kochi: Senior IAS officer M Sivasankar will release an autobiographical book describing the hurdles he had faced in connection with the controversial gold smuggling case that rocked the state. The book titled 'Ashwatthamavu Verum Oru Aana' (Ashwatthama is just an elephant) will be released next week.
The book is expected to provide an insight into the case that caused major political turmoil during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government.
In the book, Sivasankar claims that he was targeted in the case and was viewed as the mastermind. He strongly opposes the statement given by the additional solicitor general in court. Further, he also dismisses the findings of the chief secretary in connection with the appointment of Swapna Suresh. Swapna was appointed by the consulting agency, he writes in the book. He also clarifies that he rejected the request made by Swapna for the release of the diplomatic baggage.
Sivasankar spent three months in jail for allegedly helping to smuggle 30kg gold worth ₹14.82 crore through the UAE consulate in Thiruvanthapuram.
Sivasankar was the principal secretary to CM Pinarayi Vijayan when his name surfaced along with the primary accused, Swapna Suresh.
Trouble started for Sivasankar after Swapna's arrest. CM Pinarayi Vijayan first suspended Sivasankar from service for a year on July 6, 2020.
In October 2020, Sivasankar was arrested and was kept in jail for 98 days. Apart from the gold smuggling case, he was also arrested for the alleged Life Mission scam. Sivasankar was released from jail on February 3, 2021, after obtaining bail in all cases. Following this, he was reinstated back into service by the state government
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