Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's (Economic Offences) Court on Monday granted bail to M Sivasankar, former principal secretary at the Kerala Chief Minister's Office in the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case.

This is in the case registered by the Kerala Customs Department. The court granted him bail because the customs didn't file the charge sheet in the case.

But Sivasankar will remain in the prison because the case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) still exists.

In the meantime, the High Court will pronounce the verdict in the bail pleas submitted by Sivasankar in the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate shortly.

Sivasankar was arrested by Customs on November 24. The procedure to prepare charge sheet has only commenced. After the interrogation of Rabins K Hameed, another accused in the case who has international links, all accused will be sent the show-cause notice. After obtaining replies to these notice, charge sheet will be submitted. It will take at least three months to complete the procedures, as per reports.

The Kerala gold smuggling case pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. It had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019.

It is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), National Investigative Agency (NIA) and Customs department.

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