Jacob Thomas extends leave for one more month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IPS officer Jacob Thomas, who had gone on  one-month leave from the Vigilance director post last month, extended the leave for one more month from Tuesday. While there were reports that the government instructed him to extend the leave owing to the confusion over Mr T.P. Senkumar's reinstatement as state police chief, Mr. Thomas was learnt to be  unhappy over a recent government decision to scrap his earlier directive empowering Vigilance investigation officers to initiate probes and file reports without the director's concurrence.

Mr. Thomas had cited personal reasons for extending the leave, said government sources. It was subsequent to Mr. Thomas's long leave that the government gave full additional charge of Vigilance director to Mr. Loknath Behera. Meanwhile, sources said that the government may post Mr. Thomas as director, Institute of Management in Government, once Mr. Senkumar is reinstated. Mr. Senkumar is now holding the post of IMG director. Mr. Behera may continue as Vigilance director. The decisions in this regard are likely at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said sources.