Thiruvananthapuram: Jacob Thomas, who took over as the new director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), said here on Tuesday that he would make sure that the investigation into vigilance cases during the tenure of the UDF would be conducted in a free and fair manner.
The appointment of Mr Thomas is seen by many as the first step towards the promise of the LDF in its manifesto to convert the VACB into an independent agency. Mr Thomas told reporters that he would try to be fair to achieve the goals.
“There are messages in all that had happened to me in the past. Corruption cases would be probed sincerely,” he said. When asked whether Vigilant Kerala initiated while he was the VACB ADGP would be revived, he wondered how a dead child could be given a rebirth.
“The project could have been made number one if six more months were granted to me when the project was implemented then,” he said. The LDF manifesto had promised a big campaign against corruption and inefficiency. It also announced comprehensive changes in the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Kerala Lokayukta Act to ensure an ‘unadulterated’ civil service and ‘uncorrupted’ public activity.
The manifesto had promised a commission to examine these matters and submit suggestions within three months. This committee would also seek suggestions on the revamp of the VACB. It had also made it clear that the present arrangement was inadequate to provide transparent and convincing data about the assets of public workers and to throw light on their wealth in other states or countries.
The cop without khaki
Mr Thomas, a 1985 cadre IPS officer was never given a regular uniformed job since he was the Kochi city police commissioner (1997-98)
In January 2015, Thomas who was ADGP of Vigilance was shunted out with promotion as DGP for his stand in the bar bribery case involving former Finance Minister K.M. Mani.
Later in the same year, he was transferred from serving commandant of the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) to MD of Kerala Police Housing and Construction Corporation (KPHCC) after locking horns with powerful builders lobby over safety standards.
Jacob Thomas is facing disciplinary action for working as a director with the TKM institute of management while he was on study leave.
Former Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson had recommended stringent action against Mr Thomas after finding his reply to the show cause notice not satisfactory.
The disciplinary action which can be completed after only after following various procedures is now only in its preliminary stages.
Thomas was also engaged in a Facebook war with DGP T P Senkumar after Mr Senkumar reminded Mr Thomas that All-India Service Rules restrict officers from speaking on certain matters to the media.
Jacob Thomas has also stirred controversy after seeking request from the Chief Secretary for filing a complaint against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
