Report indicting Vigilance chief Jacob Thomas swept under carpet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A crucial report of the Finance Inspection Wing (FIW) reportedly indicting Vigilance director Jacob Thomas seems to have been literally brushed under the carpet.  The government is even turning down applications under the Right to Information Act seeking a copy of the report. While the over 150-page report has been with the Chief Minister’s office for more than one month, a bunch of RTI queries seeking copies of the report is  being turned down by the government maintaining that the matter was under inquiry. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was sitting on the report citing that the allegations mentioned in the report had already been probed by the Vigilance.

However, sources familiar with the developments said that it was a one-page report submitted by a DySP while Mr Thomas was serving as Vigilance ADGP during 2014. Hence, it could not be considered as a fair one. On the other side, the finance inspection wing report finalised by additional chief secretary (finance) K.M. Abraham was a detailed one that pointed fingers at Mr Thomas. State chief information commissioner Vinson M. Paul and RTI activist D.B. Binu said that generally there was no bar on giving FIW reports under the RTI Act. “Only in cases where a criminal case is registered on the basis of FIW report that there is restriction in making the report public. But I am not aware of the status of the report mentioned,” said Mr Paul.

While the public information officer at the Chief Minister's office maintained that he was not aware of any requests for a copy of the FIW report on Mr Thomas, finance department sources said that they were not able to give the report under the RTI Act as it was pending with the chief minister's office. “We could make public a FIW report only once the entire process on it is over,” said an official. The FIW recommended action against Mr Thomas after detecting irregularities in the purchase of dredger, laptops and furniture,  installation of solar panels and setting up of maritime institutions at Neendakara and Kodungallur, causing loss worth several crores to the government   while Mr Thomas was serving as ports director.