KOCHI: The Enforce Directorate (ED) will question M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the chief minister, in the black money case in the Life Mission project, today. The report of the ED said Sivasankar played a major role in getting the Life Mission contract to UNITECH. However, Sivasankar has not confessed to the crime during the interrogation. Therefore, the ED has to clarify its findings against Sivasankar. It should be investigated whether more big sharks are involved in the case and that is why the questioning continues. The Ernakulam CBI court have given Sivasankar, arrested to the custody of the ED for five days.

Meantime, with the arrest of Sivasankar, the CBI investigation may also reach the state government. CBI's new case will be under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Anyone at the administrative level can be questioned. The CBI case is for violating the foreign donation control act and conspiring to do so. The accused is UNITECH MD Santhosh Eepan who got the construction contract in Vadakancherry. Eepan revealed that an amount of Rs 4.48 crore bribe was given. Swapna had also revealed that out of that, one crore seized from her bank locker was the bribe received by Sivasankar. The CBI and ED used the revelation to tighten the noose and file a case for a black money transaction. ED wants to know who received the share of 4.48 crore bribe. Both the investigating agencies believe that they can identify the key players in the case in this manner.

The CBI has informed the Supreme Court that UNITAC is a benami firm used by the government to receive foreign aid and that there have been underworld transactions aimed at laundering black money.

Findings of CBI
1. Sivasankar associated the construction contractor with Life Mission
2. After handing over the bribe, the contract was obtained after the company owner met Sivasankar at the secretariat.
3. Swapna received the one crore bribe for Sivasankar from Khalid, the consultant’s accountant
4. Life Mission chief U V Jose stated that only after seeing the plan did, he realise that the contract was given to UNITAC. This statement is proof of sabotage.

Challenges before govt
1. Although the government is not related to the gold smuggling case, Life Mission is a government project and chief minister is the chairman
2. The investigation may reach the chief minister's office. Officials may be questioned. Things can even lead to arrest and chargesheet. The government will suffer a setback if the personal staff of the CM is arrested
3. Permission from the government is needed to cross examine officials. If the government denies permission, then CBI can approach the court and get permission
4. Though the files were taken into custody after announcing vigilance investigation, there is an experience of CBI going to the Supreme Court and getting the files.