Madras HC Allows Sivasankaran To Go Abroad But Sets Tough Terms

This serial “multi-dimensional entrepreneur” never ceases to excite. This first-generation foreigner of Indian origin holding Seychelles citizenship has strong roots in Tamil Nadu with most of his ilks living in Chennai.  Well, C Sivasankaran is his name. From launching affordable Siva Computers a few decades ago to his aborted bid to acquire Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) and his foray into telecom field with the floatation of Aircel (now defunct, of course), Siva, as is popularly known, has managed to keep the arclight focussed permanently on him. Controversies are nothing new to him. So are court cases. A Look Out Circular issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged financial fraud has forced him to stay put in India. Being a mentor of AIWO Ltd., he insists that he has to visit abroad every month to deliver wellness services to clients. But his persistent efforts to get this LOC revoked proved futile. Finally, the Madras High Court gave him a reprieve. On Friday (Dec 20), the Madras High Court allowed him to go abroad by providing for temporary suspension of LOC. It has set some stringent terms, though. The HC allowed him to travel abroad to balance concerns of the prosecution side and constitutional rights. His travel to Seychelles, however, is prohibited since India does not have an extradition treaty with that country. Well, Siva can never be out of focus!