THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the chief minister, told the NIA that his relationship with Swapna Suresh and Sarith is just a cordial one. He reiterated the statement given to the customs. He told the NIA yesterday that he just has a cordial relationship with the two and does not know the other accused.

Sivasankar told the NIA that he has no role in the gold smuggling. The investigating team is monitoring his phone records and travels. They will examine whether the accused had reached his office. He will be questioned again after collecting more evidences. The investigating team said the CCTV footages of the secretariat from July 1st to the 12th are very crucial.

Sivasankar was grilled for more than five hours yesterday. He was summoned to the police club, the camp office of the NIA in Peroorkada. The questioning which started at 4 pm ended at 8.55 pm. There were speculations that he would be arrested. Sivasankar returned to his house in Poojappura in his brother’s alto car.

This is the first time an IAS officer is questioned by the NIA in the state. He was earlier grilled for nine hours by the customs. Meantime, chief secretary Biswas Mehta yesterday ordered to provide the CCTV footages of the secretariat to the NIA as demanded by them.