Thiruvananthapuram: While the LDF government has highlighted its anti-corruption drives as it celebrates its first anniversary, eyebrows have been raised at the posting of an IPS officer with a tainted track record in a key police post. Mr Tomin Thachankary, who was recently handpicked by the government as ADGP headquarters, has to his ‘credit’ a charge-sheet in a Vigilance case for disproportionate assets, another corruption case, the adverse report of the centre in connection with a controversial foreign trip, a government order to attach his properties and another to prosecute him.
The track record of Mr. Thachankary is being discussed in the social media these days with CPM veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan’s former man Friday K.M. Shajahan listing out the allegations against Mr. Thachankary. Mr Shajahan is also planning to move legally against him. Mr. Shajahan said that even former Vigilance director Jacob Thomas had recommended Mr Thachankary’s suspension from service after the Vigilance registered a fresh case regarding alleged corruption during the latter’s tenure as transport commissioner. But the government turned down it citing flimsy reasons.
The Vigilance already has filed a charge-sheet against Mr Thachakary in a case of amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 79 lakh. The government even ordered attachment of his properties in this connection. Mr Thachankary, who was allegedly having close nexus with the CPM top brass, was suspended from service on a couple of occasions- with regard to the disproportionate asset case as well as a recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs that a probe by the National Investigation Agency found that Mr. Thachankary had met persons with criminal background during his trip to Qatar in 2010.
The previous UDF government promoted him to ADGP rank despite objections cited by the then chief secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan. Mr. Thachankary was posted as ADGP headquarters soon after the SC ordered to reinstate Mr T.P. Senkumar as state police chief. It was alleged to be an attempt by the government to clip the wings of Mr. Senkumar. The police headquarters has been witnessing an ugly clash of top officers these days.
