DGP Jacob Thomas to Take Legal Action Against Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today played down controversial IPS officer Jacob Thomas’s move to seek legal action against him, saying that “sanction will be given at that moment itself when permission is sought”. The letter given to DGP T P Senkumar four days back has been handed over to the chief secretary.

Speaking with reporters, Chandy took “full responsibility” of Thomas’ transfer and said some of Thomas’ decisions were in conflict with the government’s policies. I have taken a stand against the flat owners considering the safety an security of the citizens. Anil Kanth, who succeeded me as fire force chief, too supported my action.

Moreover, the Chief Minister also reportedly noted in the file that “since difference of opinion is seen in the report of the District Collector, VACB, Land Revenue Commissioner and the Revenue Secretary, the Chief Secretary may please examine the matter in detail and offer remarks to settle the issue”. As a police official, I was tainted. The government’s action is very painful, he pointed in the letter.

The officer is learnt to have sought from the chief minister a retraction of his statement that the officer was transferred from the post of Fire and Rescue Services chief in the wake of “complaints” against him. One of the incidents cited by Chandy was that the fire force personnel failed to clear a ghat road, when traffic was disrupted by a tree that fell on the road. There also he took strict action. He was later shifted to police housing construction corporation. When the court ordered a further probe against Mani in the bar bribery row, Jacob Thomas, a former head of Vigilance had said that truth has won (Satyameva Jayathe), welcoming the court order. The chief secretary and the DGP too criticized his stand.