THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CBI investigation in the Life Mission scam seems increasingly likely by the day. The ED was able to find that the gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh and group defrauded Rs 4.25 crores and that four IAS officers were involved. Once ED gives a report that central officers are involved in the scam, it will open the way for a CBI probe.

Though the government ordered a vigilance probe on the bribery case, it is insufficient in a case that includes the UAE consulate and Red Crescent. The CBI has the authority to probe cases involving corruption. Also, the state vigilance has its limitations as the investigation goes beyond national borders.

The Union government takes this case seriously as the deal violated protocol. Also, the significance of the case increases as the money was defrauded from Red Crescent, an institution presided by the UAE ruler.

The CBI Thiruvananthapuram unit on the last day undertook a case of fraud against a Christian organization in Kottayam that violated Union laws by receiving money from Holland for the Tsunami Rehabilitation Scheme. As the Life Mission is similar in the sense that it has foreign involvement, experts say that the case might be undertaken by the CBI.

UV Jose, the then chief secretary Tom Jose, and local secretary TK Jose are also part of the Life Mission deal. TK Jose is the additional chief secretary of the Home Department. Before Sivasankar, UV Jose was the Life Mission CEO.