Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the state government to submit a fresh affidavit in the case connected with the appointment of ADGP Tomin J. Thachankary at the police headquarters. The court stated that it was not fully satisfied with the affidavit filed by the government in the case. The officer concerned has been facing a prosecution in the Muvattupuzha Vigilance court for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Although the Vigilance special court had filed a chargesheet against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and served several notices asking him to appear before the court, he failed to do so and no charge could be framed by the court.
A report by the then Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau director recommending suspension of Mr Thachankary from service has also been pending.
The petition filed by Jose Thomas of Alappuzha challenging the appointment of Mr Thachankary has also pointed out that the government has been keeping silent on the charges that the officer then working as the transport commissioner had directed the Palakkad RTO to collect Rs 1 lakh each from officers under him. He was also accused of collecting Rs 3 lakh from the said RTO in May 2016. The petitioner stated that despite these allegations and cases, the government had promoted Mr Thachankary and given him charge of the sensitive T-section. The court observed that the position could be used to interfere with the investigation of the case. The petitioner also produced reports in the media regarding the missing of 20 files relating to Mr Thachankary from the T-section of the police headquarters.
