VACB sends report on Jacob Thomas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has submitted a confidential verification report against DGP Jacob Thomas before the Lok Ayukta.

According to sources, the report was filed in connection with a preliminary inquiry initiated by the Lok Ayukta on a petition alleging corruption and forestland encroachment by the senior IPS officer. The confidential verification report was filed in a sealed cover.

An additional secretary of the stores purchase department also gave statements before the Lok Ayukta regarding an audit. A local Congress party worker Berby Fernandez filed the petition in January alleging corruption during his tenure as director of ports and encroachment of forest in Kodagu district in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the Lok Ayukta will consider the Pattoor land encroachment case on Thursday. Though the case was scheduled to be considered on Tuesday, it was postponed owing to a boycott of court proceedings by lawyers over the attack on a lawyer at Neyyattinkara.