Thiruvananthapuram: The relations between LDF government and Thomas Jacob came a full circle with his suspension on Tuesday. Barely a week after taking charge, the LDF government appointed Thomas as director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, a post from which he was booted out by the previous UDF regime. The posting was seen as a reward for his bold stand in bar bribe case.
While the initial period in office was quiet, problems began when he targeted senior IAS officers and even got legal advice to act on complaints against them. But IAS officers hit back saying Thomas was trying to harass them in the name of anonymous petitions and inquiry. During his tenure, vigilance raided the houses of the then additional chief secretary, finance, K. M. Abraham and additional chief secretary, labour, Tom Jose in connection with allegations of disproportionate assets (Both officers got clean chit from vigilance court just recently).
The raids had IAS officers threatening to go on mass leave. The IAS – IPS tiff put the government in a tight spot. Things reached a flash point when High Court criticised him twice “for overstepping his Constitutional bounds to establish a Vigilance Raj in Kerala.” A High Court Bench had even questioned his continuance as VACB chief. Followoing court’s criticism the chief minister asked him to proceed on leave. In the meanwhile, the officer released his controversial service story 'Sravukalkoppam Neenthumpol' (swimming along with sharks).
After two-and-a-half months leave, he was posted as director Institute of Management in Government. But Thomas continued to remain mired in controversies. Last month an inquiry conducted by additional chief secretary (home) found many portions in the controversial book violative of service rules. Initially the government ordered criminal proceeding against him but later restricted it to disciplinary action. But his public criticism of the government in handling Ockhi proved the last nail in the coffin.
