Faced pressure when probing bargate: DGP Jacob Thomas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a statement that could trigger a political controversy in the run-up to the Aruvikkara by-poll, DGP Jacob Thomas, who led the bar bribe investigation, has said he was under pressure during the probe.

He was recently appointed as commandant of the Fire and Rescue after being promoted as a DGP. He told a television channel here on Saturday that he had to face many hindrances during the investigation.

“Time will prove that my decision was correct,” he said adding he could overcome all difficulties through courage.

“I conducted the inquiry without any bias. I have not acted according to the interests of the government or any individual. I am proud that I have not diluted the case. I acted in the interests of society”.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said the same legal advisor who had tried to sabotage the palmolein case to save Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was used to save the finance minister.

“I will be in the forefront of the agitation against the move to sabotage the case,” Mr Achuthanandan told reporters in New Delhi.

His party colleague and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who is also in the national capital to attend a central committee meeting, said it was for the court to make a judgment on the legality of the charge-sheet before them.

“Legal advisor should not take up the role of the court,” Mr Balakrishnan said. “The statement by the DGP clearly established that there was a high level intervention in the case. He has made it clear that the government has not allowed him to conduct the inquiry in a free and fair manner”.

The government should have allowed the ADGP to continue in service till the investigation was completed. After Mr Thomas moved out of the  Vigilance, the department had received the opinion of legal advisor V V Augustine indicating that the evidence collected so far are inadequate to implicate K M Mani.

It has provided relief for the UDF going to by-poll in Aruvikkara. The Opposition had alleged foul play in the report submitted by the legal advisor.

Mr Thomas had gone on leave while the investigation was in progress amid reports that he was transferred during the probe.

The allegation was that he went on leave owing to the dissatisfaction over the conduct of probe. Home minister Ramesh Chennithala later dismissed the reports.