M Sivasankar, former Senior Secretary to the Kerala Chief Minister under the PMLA, 2002, was detained by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with the Livelihood Integration Financial Empowerment (LIFE) Programme Scam.
According to an FIR filed by the CBI, ACB, Kochi, and Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Thiruvananthapuram against M/s Unitac Builders and Developers Private Limited and M/s Sane Ventures LLP and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act, it is believed that some people obtained financial benefit from the Life Mission Project and that numerous people, including some public employees, received illegal fulfilment.
The Kerala Government was contacted by the UAE Consulate General, Thiruvananthapuram, through Sivasankar, the former principal secretary to the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, regarding the funds offered by Red Crescent. After several discussions, it was decided to accept the funds when Red Crescent approached the UAE Consulate General, Trivandrum, offering to donate a fund of 10 million dirhams in Kerala for charitable purposes. On July 11, 2019, the Life Mission team and Red Crescent officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of the UAE Consul General, Sivasankar, the then-honourable Chief Minister, and other department secretaries.
With the help of Sandeep, Sarith, and Sivasankar, an employee of the Consulate conspired to award the LIFE Mission project to M/s Unitac Builders and Developers private limited and M/s Sane Ventures LLP run by Santhosh Eappen in order to generate a commission as a bribe from the money donated by Red Crescent.
As Sivasankar was confusing in his responses and uncooperative in his approach when presented with the material proof, the ED summoned him and arrested him on February 14, 2023. Upon his arrest, Sivasankar was brought before the Hon. Special Court for PMLA proceedings in Ernakulam, and the Hon. Judge granted the ED custody of the suspect till February 20, 2023. More research is now being conducted.
