Sivasankar's bail plea: Justice Kauser withdraws

• Another bench to consider on Monday

KOCHI: In the black money case registered by ED in connection with the Life Mission bribery case, Justice Dr. Kauser Edappagath recused himself from hearing the bail plea filed by M Sivashankar, former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Another bench will hear the petition on Monday.

Justice Kauser Edappagath hears bail applications in cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Justice Kauser Edappagath directed the High Court Registry that the case against Sivashankar is mainly under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that the petition be posted to a bench that hears bail pleas in such cases.

On February 14, M. Sivashankar was arrested by the ED. The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court had rejected Sivashankar's bail plea in the case on March 2. Then the High Court was approached.

The ED's case is that there was an illegal financial gain from the funds given by the voluntary organization UAE Red Crescent for the Life Mission project in Vadakancherry. Sivashankar filed a bail plea in the case citing health problems. Sivashankar's remand period Add. The Additional Sessions Court had extended the remand period of Sivashankar till March 21.