THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Assessing that the investigations conducted by various central agencies in the state since July 2020 are being diverted, the tenure of Justice V K Mohanan Commission, appointed by the government to examine the matter, has been extended for six more months. The decision was taken at the meeting chaired by the chief minister. The new term is for six months from today. The tenure was also extended by six months in November.

The commission was appointed on May 7, 2021. The directive was to submit the report within six months. The government is extending the term of the commission even after the high court stayed the judicial investigation in August 2021. Despite freezing activities, the government is spending lakhs on the commission's activities.

The commission is mainly examining the involvement of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the gold smuggling case. The government appointed the commission in May 2021 to investigate the statements of Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, who alleged that ED officials had forced them to name people including the chief minister in the case. In the same year in August, the high court stayed the commission's investigation on the ED's plea. With this, the commission was unable to summon ED officials to record their statements or collect evidence.

The government retained the commission, which has been largely inactive, by extending its term several times. The government has appealed against the high court's verdict. Justice V K Mohanan Commission is also investigating the causes of the boat accident that occurred at Thoovaltheeram Beach at Tanur in Malappuram in May 2023. Its term has also been extended by six more months.