Chief secretary Jiji Thomson orders probe into Inkel chief’s double salary, pension

Kochi: Chief secretary Jiji Thomson on Monday ordered an inquiry by the inspection wing of the finance department into the allegation that former additional chief secretary T. Balakrishnan received two salaries for seven months when he was additional chief secretary (industries) in 2011.

“The allegation is very serious and I have ordered an inquiry into the charge,” the chief secretary told DC. “The inquiry will be completed in a week,” he said.

DC reported on Monday that Mr Balakrishnan received remuneration from Inkel from April 2011 till he retired on October 31, 2011, during which he, as additional chief secretary, held the charge of Inkel managing director.

Inkel is a government-promoted private limited company, formed to take up infrastructure projects in the state. 

When pointed out that Mr Balakrishnan violated rules by drawing pension from the government though his salary as Inkel managing director was several times his last drawn salary in the government, the chief secretary said the finance department would  inquire into this charge also.

According to sources in the government, an IAS officer must not only seek central government sanction for taking up a job within a year of his retirement, he should forego his pension if his monthly salary was more than his last drawn salary.

The director board of Inkel had fixed Mr Balakrishnan’s salary as RS 3 lakh per month, which was far above the salary level of an additional chief secretary, the post he held when he retired.