THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance special court's order on the bar bribery case has kicked off a heated debate among top cops over their credibility, even as DGP Jacob Thomas maintained that he never doubted the credentials of his former boss, Vigilance director Vinson M. Paul.
Though the state police chief T.P. Senkumar warned Mr Jacob Thomas of disciplinary action for making unwanted public statements, the latter took it in a lighter manner.
A statement by Mr Jacob Thomas on Thursday appreciating the Vigilance court's order had kicked off a row as the verdict was against the government. The court had also made adverse remarks against Mr Vinson Paul.
“I only hailed the Vigilance court order to go ahead with a corruption case in which there was prima facie evidence. I never meant to tarnish Vinson Paul and I respect his credentials,” Mr. Jacob Thomas told DC.
Earlier during the day, the state police chief came down heavily on Mr Jacob Thomas maintaining that since he (Jacob Thomas) was not part of the bar bribery investigation at any point of time, there was no point in his making unnecessary statements that he was removed from the Vigilance owing to pressure with regard to the bar case.
“Serving officers making such false public statements could attract disciplinary action,” Mr. Senkumar told reporters.
Later, when mediapersons sought Mr. Jacob Thomas’s reaction on the matter, he replied in a light note that Mr Senkumar was also an IPS officer.
“I don’t know the norms of disciplinary action. But I hope no one would dispute the matter that I served in the Vigilance,” Mr Jacob Thomas said.
Mr Senkumar, who hailed the credibility of Mr Vinson Paul, said that it was the duty of the senior officer to scrutinise the findings of subordinate officers and give opinions.
There were even Supreme Court orders that officers who prosecute anyone without sufficient evidence can attract punishment, he said.
Mr. Jacob Thomas also told DC that as per CrPC, it is the duty of senior officer to supervise and give directions. “There was nothing improper in the Vigilance director giving his suggestions on the findings of the investigation officer. The investigation officer should have further probed the case on the basis of those directions,” he said.
Meanwhile, chief secretary Jiji Thomson told a section of media that it was not proper on the part of government officers to make public statements against the government.
However, sources pointed out that Mr. Thomson himself had made open statements causing embarrassment to the government.
