Thiruvananthapuram: Thomas re-entry to service distant

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has ordered a Vigilance probe against former Vigilance director Jacob Thomas, making it more difficult for the suspended senior IPS officer to re-enter service.

The fresh investigation  is in connection with the alleged irregularities in the purchase of cutter suction dredger for the ports department while he was serving as ports director during 2011-12, causing a loss to the tune of Rs. 14.96 crore to the exchequer.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is likely to register a case against him soon. It could be for the first time that a Vigilance case is being registered against a former Vigilance chief. The investigation might be entrusted with any of the two special investigation units.

Mr. Thomas is under suspension since December last year on various charges, including criticising  the government in connection with the Ockhi relief activities and violation of service rules in his controversial service story 'Sravukalkoppam Neenthumpol' (Swimming along with sharks).

The government ordered the Vigilance inquiry on the basis of a finance inspection report and the detailed report of former chief secretary K.M. Abraham. Former chief secretary S.M. Vijayanand had recommended a high-level probe against him in February 2017. But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to seek the opinion of the director-general of prosecution  on the matter and hence it was delayed for more than a year.

Though Mr. Thomas had earlier sought revocation of the suspension, the review committee headed by the chief secretary turned it down.