Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan developed cold feet at the last minute and kept off a function to release the controversial autobiography of IPS officer Jacob Thomas on Monday.
However, Mr Thomas released the book by handing over a copy to Edamalakuddy grama panchayat president V. Govindraj at a restaurant in the city.
The book titled Sravukalkoppam Neent-humpol (swimming along with sharks) contained adverse remarks against political leaders, including former chief minister Oommen Chandy and CPI leader C. Divakaran.
It was after senior Congress leader K.C. Joseph sent a letter to the Chief Minister asking whether Mr Jacob Thomas wrote the autobiography containing official matters with government permission that Mr Vijayan reconsidered his plan. “I have sought the law secretary’s opinion on Mr Joseph’s letter and he suggested that there seems to be some issues involved. Hence, I decided to keep off the function,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
As soon as his decision was announced in the afternoon, the organisers cancelled the function scheduled to be held at the press club hall at 5 pm.
But Mr Jacob Thomas decided to go ahead with the release and handed over a copy to Mr Govindaraj at an informal function at a restaurant in the city, attended by a couple of persons, including representatives of the publishing firm, Current Books. "The books have already reached the stalls," said Current Books publications manager K.J. Johny. Sources at the CM's office said that no ban was imposed on releasing the book.
Government sources said that Mr Jacob Thomas may attract legal action if he had not obtained permission for his book. Law secretary B.G. Hareendranath had also given such an opinion to the Chief Minister.
In his letter, Mr Joseph pointed out that if the Chief Minister released the book it may create an impression that the revelation of official matters was made with his consent. He also asked if Mr Jacob Thomas took permission for authoring a book while in service and even to misuse government files and documents. He also asked if the contents of the book were examined.
In the book, Mr Thomas alleged that Mr Chandy had conducted a press conference to personally attack him as he had initiated a vigilance probe into the bar bribery allegations against former excise minister K. Babu and conducted a probe into the Pattoor land scams. He also alleged that former civil supplies minister C. Divakaran had removed him from the post of the managing director of Civil Supplies Corporation after he exposed corruption in the corporation.
