KOCHI: As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is gearing up to interrogate former IT Secretary M Sivasankar on Monday, the bureaucrat's response to questions regarding the accused's link with terrorism will be crucial in the gold smuggling case. Monday will be a crucial day for both the central agency as well as Sivasankar.

It is learnt that Sivasankar will be questioned in a special room by NIA's Kochi unit chief S Rahul under the leadership of IG Ravishankar from the agency's Hyderabad unit. The questioning session will be observed by NIA Director-General Yogesh Chander Modi through video conference.

The entire questioning session will be recorded. It is learnt that the NIA officers from Hyderabad have prepared a detailed questionnaire for Monday. It is learnt that the agency might immediately record the arrest of Sivasankar if his involvement in the gold smuggling gets proven or if he confesses his crime. Sources said that NIA has sought legal advice regarding adding Sivasankar's name in the list of accused.