Kerala IT secretary removed as Pinarayi Vijayan’s secretary

Kerala IT secretary M. Sivasankar was removed as secretary to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday, in the backdrop of the gold smuggling controversy, where the role of a former woman employee of the IT department is being probed.

In a brief statement on Tuesday, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said Sivasankar has been removed and replaced by Mir Mohammed, another IAS officer, who will hold additional charge.

Sivasankar is likely to continue as IT secretary.

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 international airport in Thiruvananthapuram.