THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan’s assistant private secretary K Ayyappan appeared before the customs. He appeared before the customs at 9 am Friday morning for interrogation in the dollar smuggling case. The customs said they had no special protection to avoid being questioned in the dollar smuggling case, and he decided to appear today after being given another notice yesterday.

According to Rules of Business 165, the protection also applies to Speaker's employees and customs replied that the letter given by assembly secretary S V Unnikrishnan Nair was not acceptable. The reply has explained that Rule 165 was not meant to protect criminals. The permission of the Speaker is not required to question the secretary and customs clarified that consent is required only in case of arrest. Ayyappan is being questioned on speaker's travel details, details of visitors and information in tour diary.