M Sivasankar removed from IT Secretary post, M Y Safirulla to replace him

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M Sivasankar has been removed as IT Secretary soon after removed from secretary to the chief minister, in the backdrop of the gold smuggling controversy, where the role of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the IT department is being probed.

Mohammed Y Safirulla will be the new IT Secretary. Sivasankar had applied for long leave soon after he was removed from secretary to the chief minister. Sivasankar was removed as secretary to the chief minister and replaced by Mir Mohammed, another IAS officer, who will hold additional charge.

The removal of Sivasankar comes in the backdrop of the opposition allegations that the role of a woman, who was earlier employed in the IT department was being investigated in the seizure of 30 kg of gold smuggled through "diplomatic baggage" at the international airport here.