Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gets active for third time in Vijayan's controversial housing project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI has, for the third time, started to actively pursue the case of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's pet project, Life Mission, which had come under its and the ED's scanner due to alleged wrongdoings but was lying in the cold storage. The CBI has now asked Vijayan's former Principal Secretary, M. Sivasankar, to appear before them on Thursday.

It had recently summoned Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case and interrogated her. Following this, came the news on Wednesday evening that Sivasankar was served notice asking him to appear before the agency on 10.30 a.m. on Thursday.

The case involves the alleged violation of foreign contribution regulations in the Kerala government's flagship project, which intended to provide homes to the poor who lost their houses in the devastating floods of 2018. The project at Wadakancherry in Trissur district then came under a cloud.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier arrested Unitac builder Santhosh Eapen besides questioning top government officials, including Sivasankar.

The case surfaced after the gold smuggling case came to light in June 2020 in which Sivasankar was jailed. Both Swapna Suresh and Sarith, who were employed in the UAE Consulate, were later found to have a role in Life Mission funds misappropriation too.

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