Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government today removed M Sivasankar from the post of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, after his name emerged in a gold smuggling case related to the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.
Mir Mohammad has been appointed to the post of Principal Secretary to the CM. However, Sivasankar will continue in his post of IT Department Secretary.
In a brief statement, the CMO said Sivasankar has been removed and replaced by Mir Mohammed, another IAS officer, who will hold additional charge.
The removal of Sivasankar comes in the backdrop of the Opposition allegations that the role of a woman, who was earlier employed in the IT department was being investigated in the seizure of 30 kg of gold smuggled through diplomatic baggage at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.
The Customs had arrested an accused in the case on Monday and is on the lookout for the woman, who had been appointed as liasion officer on a six month contract in the Space Park under the IT department.