The Kerala Lok Ayukta on Friday opened an investigation against Director General of Police (DGP) Jacob Thomas on the suspicion of corruption and maladministration in the procurement of costly dredging equipment when he was Director of Ports (DOP) during the 2011-12 period.
Lok Ayukta Pius C. Kuriakose and Upa Lok Ayukta K.P. Balachandran initiated the probe after they considered an inspection report that delved into several allegations against Mr. Thomas. The court deemed that “perhaps, the most important material” that came before it was the confidential report on the dredger purchase filed by K.M. Abraham, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance.
Mr. Abraham’s report accused Mr. Thomas of conspiracy, corruption and rigging bid to allegedly accord pecuniary gain to the dredger supplier.
The Lok Ayukta found that the Chief Secretary had recommended a police inquiry against Mr. Thomas on the basis of Mr. Abraham’s findings. The Chief Secretary forwarded the file to the Finance Minister who ordered that the “Chief Minister may decide.” The Chief Minister forwarded the file to the Director General of Prosecution for legal opinion.
Government stand
It also noted that the government “seems to have not taken any action (against Mr. Thomas) despite strong recommendations by the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, the opinion of the Chief Secretary and the hope expressed by the High Court through its judgment.”
The judges also spotlighted Mr. Thomas’s reply to a show-cause notice issued to him as part of a disciplinary proceeding as evidenced in a file they considered.
The court noted “interestingly Mr. Thomas refers to orders passed by the Lok Ayukta in the celebrated Pattoor case obviously to show that his credibility and efficiency has been acknowledged by the Lok Ayukta.”
The court will hear the case again on August 1.
