The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday was given custody of suspended IAS officer M Sivasankar for six more days.
The development came after the investigation team filed an affidavit at the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court seeking an extension for the custody of Sivasankar, the former principal secretary to the chief minister.
The ED claimed Sivasankar had shared confidential information pertaining to government's two key projects - the Life Mission and KFON project - with Swapna Suresh, key accused in the gold smuggling racket unearthed in Kerala in July.
It was learned that this information was shared with Unitac Builders, a private firm which was awarded the contract for construction of the houses under the Life Mission project in Wadakkanchery. It has already admitted to having paid huge amounts of kickbacks to Swapna and others.
Life Mission is the Kerala government's housing scheme for the homeless while KFON is a project to provide free internet service for the poor.
With more information on Life Mission scandal now coming to light in the past few days, the court granted ED's demand to extend Sivasankar's custody so that the investigation is not affected.
The court directed the agency to produce him before it on November 11.
Sivasankar was arrested by the ED on October 29 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the gold smuggling racket. The ED has named him fifth accused in the case.
The National Investigation Agency, Customs and the ED are also conducting separate investigations into the case.
(With inputs from PTI)