Kerala High Court notice to state on land deal by Jacob Thomas'

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the state government to file a statement on a petition challenging the Muvattupuzha Vigilance court’s order rejecting a probe against Jacob Thomas, director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The court issued notices to the chief secretary and additional chief secretary while considering a petition filed by Michael Varghese of Pattanakkad, Cherthala, challenging the order of the Vigilance court. According to the petitioner, Jacob Thomas holds encroached property in Kodagu district in Karnataka.

He  submitted that Mr Thomas had purchased 50 acres of dry land at Sethur, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu in his wife's name. It was not disclosed in the immovable property return of 2001, but shown in 2002-03 and again was missing from that of 2004. The Vigilance court disregarded a report prepared by the additional chief secretary of finance on December 3, 2016 describing the irregularities committed by  Thomas. The petitioner alleged that Thomas encroached on 151.03 acres of forest land in Kodagu district and was   holding the land in his wife’s name.  In his property statement, the land is shown in the officer’s name  with annual income declared at Rs 20 lakh, the petition  stated.

However, the Vigilance court held that the allegation regarding the  encroachment was  a matter  to be decided by the competent court there, where a case is pending. It was alleged that about 50 acres of land at Rajapalayam was purchased in the name of  Jacob Thomas, director, ISRA Agro-Tech Systems Pvt. Ltd. residing at S/79, Ist Floor, GCDA Commercial Complex, P.B. No. 2710, Marine Drive, Kochi-  682031, in 2001. It was alleged to be that of the  Vigilance director as he was reportedly serving as a honorary management consultant of the company at  that time.