THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a case against IPS officer Tomin Thachankary in connection with the alleged irregularities during his tenure as transport commissioner till recently. A quick verification by the VACB special investigation unit-I found prime facie evidence in connection with a series of allegations, including undue exemptions given to private firms by the Motor Vehicles Department during Thachankary's tenure.
Subsequently a case was registered against him. Palakkad regional transport officer N. Saravanan and a vehicle dealer were also arraigned in the case. Thachankary had faced a Vigilance case in connection with the amassment of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income, which was chargesheeted in 2013 . He was recently shifted from the transport commissioner post owing to differences with Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran over various issues, including the row over his birthday celebration in the MVD.
According to sources, the Vigilance team had recovered audio records of a conversation of Thachankary with Saravanan regarding the irregularities. One of the allegations against Thachankary was that undue relaxation in pollution standards was given to two vehicle dealers. Thachankary also faced allegation of waiving the fines imposed by the MVD on some vehicle dealers for unlawful trade practices.
Another allegation was that he insisted that all pollution testing centres across the state should use software of a particular firm. Since the MVD had earlier refused to cooperate with the probe, the quick verification was conducted under the direct supervision of Vigilance director Jacob Thomas. Thanchankary had earlier alleged that the allegations against him were part of a controversy being hatched by a section with vested interests.
