Kerala High Court orders probe against Tomin Thachankary

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday held that an inquiry by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) against ADGP Tomin J. Thachankary for the alleged illegal appointment in Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) will have to be made by a very senior high ranking officer. Mr Thachankary, who allegedly made the appointment, is now holding a key post in the police headquarters. A Single Judge issued the order on a petition filed by S. Sreehari, assistant motor vehicle inspector (AMV), Regional Transport Office, Thrissur seeking to quash the vigilance inquiry against him.

The petitioner was appointed as AMV by Tomin J. Thachankary while he was the transport commissioner. Following this Ernakulam native Raveendran filed a complaint before Vigilance Special Court alleging corruption. Raveendran alleged that Sreehari was a ministerial staff in the office of the transport commissioner and he does not have the requisite qualification for the post of AMV. It was alleged that Sreehari was appointed on the basis of a fake degree certificate obtained while he was working in the department. The complainant said that Thachankary abused his official position, after accepting illegal gratification and made the appointment. Based on the complaint, the Vigilance special court had ordered quick verification.

The court observed that the inquiry must be centered around Thachankary who made the appointment. There was no crime at present. “What is ordered is only an inquiry into the allegations made in the complaint,as to whether there is element of corruption by way of illegal gratification or misconduct, in the appointment," the court pointed out. The HC also declined to stay the investigation and directed that VACB will report the action taken on the complaint forwarded for inquiry by the special court.