KOCHI: Former principal secretary of Chief Minister, M Sivasankar has informed the court that he is suffering from serious health issues. His lawyer informed the court that he is suffering from several diseases, while the court was going to take up his bail plea. His lawyer has asked the court to grant bail, as customs have not found any serious evidence against Sivasankar on the cases registered against him.

Meanwhile, the customs which have opposed granting bail to Sivasankar has gain reiterated their earlier stand that Sivasankar has played a major role in the gold smuggling case. He has gone abroad seven times with Swapna Suresh. Sivasankar has also testified that he had incurred the expense of foreign trips all the seven times. Customs has asked the court why a senior IAS officer should do this? The customs also added that there are mysterious intentions behind foreign trips.

Customs also rejected Sivasankar’s claim that he is suffering from serious ailments. The customs asked the court that he claims he is undergoing treatment since 2015, but have the diseases prevented him from undertaking foreign trips? “This case has even affected diplomatic relations with the UAE and the court must remember it is a country where lakhs of Keralites work for a living,” the lawyer who appeared for the department said. The court will pronounce its verdict on Sivasankar’s bail plea on Wednesday.