THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan’s assistant private secretary K Ayyapan will not appear before customs for questioning on Wednesday. He informed the department that as he is busy with work in the wake of the budget session of the assembly to be convened from Friday, he won’t be able to appear for questioning. Ayyapan has also asked that he will appear before the department another day.

The customs has earlier sent a notice to him to summon him for questioning on Wednesday morning 10 am in connection with the dollar transfer case. Ayyapan has called the department on Tuesday evening and has informed that he will appear by midnight 12 am. However, he again informed the department on Tuesday evening that he can’t appear for questioning in the late hours and he is busy with work as the budget session of the assembly will be commenced from Friday.

Meanwhile, customs officials say that Ayyapan is not cooperating with the probe. Initially, even after sending the notice, he said that he has not received it. If he is not ready to appear before the department for the third time after sending the notice, then the department will be forced to issue an arrest warrant against him.