The Supreme Court granted interim medical bail to M Sivasankar, the former Principal Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is facing money laundering charges in the LIFE Mission case [M Sivasankar v Union of India]. The bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh allowed his release on bail for two months due to his need for post-operative treatment for a spine ailment. However, the court imposed restrictions, instructing Sivasankar not to visit any place other than his home and the hospital during the bail period. The court emphasized that the applicant must not misuse his liberty or attempt to influence any witnesses related to the case.
The Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed Sivasankar's release on bail, expressing concerns about his political clout and the potential misuse of interim medical bail as a means of obtaining permanent release.
The Supreme Court's decision came after an appeal was filed against the Kerala High Court's order from last April, which had rejected Sivasankar's bail plea. The High Court had expressed apprehension about Sivasankar's potential to tamper with evidence and influence witnesses due to his influence over the State government and the Chief Minister.
M Sivasankar was arrested by the ED in connection with the 2020 LIFE Mission Case, which involves alleged irregularities in a specific project under the Kerala government's housing security scheme. The project is accused of receiving funding from a foreign entity in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Sivasankar stated that government officials, including him, received illegal gratification from funds meant for flood victims in Kerala through the LIFE Mission project.
The predicate offences mentioned in the arrest order are an FIR registered by the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) under the Prevention of Corruption Act and another FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for FCRA violations.
TAGS: Supreme Court interim medical bail M Sivasankar former Principal Secretary Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan money laundering charges LIFE Mission case bench Justices AS Bopanna MM Sundresh two months surgery spine ailment home hospital Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Enforcement Directorate opposition judicial custody political clout Kerala High Court bail plea rejection influence witnesses arrest housing security scheme Kerala government foreign entity Foreign Contribution Regulation Act ECIR government officials illegal gratification flood victims Kerala predicate offences Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau Prevention of Corruption Act Central Bureau of Investigation FCRA violations.
