Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan has asked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to clarify whether the State government had received any communication from the Home Ministry clearing IPS officer Tomin J. Thachankary of all the charges against him.
In a statement here on Friday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the Chief Minister should clarify on what ground the decision to appoint Mr. Thachankary as the managing director of Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Marketfed) was taken and the recommendation for granting him promotion as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) was made.
The Opposition leader pointed out that Mr. Thachankary had been accused of having travelled outside the country without due clearance and having held discussions with anti-national forces. There were also several cases, including that for illegal import of goods, pending against him. The charge of illegal amassment of wealth had been found to be true in investigation and a charge-sheet had been filed against him.
When Mr. Thachankary, who was under suspension, was taken back, the Chief Minister had stated that he was reinstated as recommended by the Home Ministry. Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran had later clarified that this was not true. The person who complained against Mr. Thachankary was the Indian Ambassador in Kuwait and the person who had filed a complaint with the government alleging operation of an illegal account abroad was none other than the present Chief Whip, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out.
BJYM decries decision
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has criticised the posting of Mr. Thachankary as managing director of Marketfed.
The government's decision to appoint Mr. Thachankary, who is under the scanner of the National Investigation Agency, is to save the faces of some political leaders in the State, BJYM State president V.V. Rajesh said in a statement.
Mr. Rajesh said both the LDF and UDF leaders were trying to protect Mr. Thachankary, against whom there were charges of custodial torture.
