I could meet Sivasankar only after paying commision, reveals Santosh Eapen of UNITAC

Santosh Eapen, MD of UNITAC, who got into a contract for building apartments for homeless under Kerala Government Life Mission project has disposed sensational updates before Enforcement Directorate. Santosh Eapen stated that he got access to meet M Sivasankar, n principal secretary (IT) and private secretary to CM Pinarayi Vijayan only after paying a hefty commission amount.

He furr added that UV Jose, CEO of Life Mission was introduced to him by Sivasankar in his cabin in Secretariat.

He also gave statement that to give commission for winning contract he converted 3 lakh USD in Kochi and 1 lakh USD in Thiruvananthapuram from grey market. An amount of 3.80 crores was handed to Egyptian national Khalid Ali and 59 lakhs was paid to Sandeep Nair, prime accused in gold smuggling case.

Read | Life Mission Probe: CBI Alleges Fraud In Foreign Funding; M Sivasankar To Be Questioned

However, ED has found discrepancies in statements given to ncy by Swapna Suresh and Santosh Eapen. Earlier, Swapna had stated that on May 2018, she got 1.08 crore as Indian rupees and commission for Egyptian national in US dollars. She had also stated that she was present in car of Egyptian national when entire commission money was handed over to him. It was safely kept at his house till September 2018. After that, money was transferred to locker facility belonging to Swapna with help of Sivasankar's chartered accountant.

ED is tracing conspiracy as MoU between Life Mission and Red Crescent was signed 10 months later, on July 11 2019. 

Read | CBI Approaches High Court To Quash Stay Order Issued To Probe Life Mission In Kerala

Extravaganza in Life Mission anuncement

Kerala government has spent Rs 33 lakhs for official proclamation of success of Life Mission Programme, a project that is meant to provide a home to state's estimated 5 lakh homeless people.

extravagant spending by communist government has been called out by opposition parties in state. government had shockingly set aside a budget of Rs 30 lakhs for anuncement of completion of 2 lakh homes under Life Mission Scheme. A grand function was organised on February 29, this year. expenditure report reveals proclamation expenses shot up by Rs 33 Lakhs. It is also been reported extra cost was eventually borne by Kerala government.

Read | Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: Sivasankar Files Anticipatory Bail Plea In HC After ED Summon

Read | Kerala HC Rejects Plea To Vacate Stay On CBI Probe Against Life Mission CEO