THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan's office has issued a letter to the Customs obstructing the agency’s move to interrogate K Ayyappan, the Assistant Private Secretary to Speaker, in connection with the dollar smuggling case. The letter was given to Customs by Assembly Secretary SV Unnikrishnan Nair on Wednesday evening.

The letter stated that there are matters in which Speaker has the sovereign power and hence to question someone who comes under Assembly Secretariat, the former’s permission is required.

Customs had served a second notice to Ayyappan to appear for interrogation on Wednesday. However, he had given a reply that he cannot appear before it due to the busy schedule of the Kerala Assembly.