KOCHI: M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the chief minister, said the enforcement directorate arrested him for not saying the names of political leaders in the gold smuggling and life mission cases. Sivasankar informed the court that he was a victim of political motives and has nothing to do with the offense. He mentioned all this in the explanatory note filed in the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.

The main reason for the arrest is that I did not abide on the pressure of the enforcement. Sivasankar submitted in the court the full text of the WhatsApp message between Swapna and his chartered accountant Venugopal. These messages should be examined. He explained that he had never called any customs officer for gold smuggling. The court will pronounce the verdict on his bail plea tomorrow.

Meantime, the customs is questioning Sivasankar in Kakkanad district jail. The customs officials reached the district jail this afternoon. He is likely to be questioned till 5 pm.