Jacob Thomas firm, ball now in CM Pinarayi Vijayan's court

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the CPM leadership has decided not to accept the request of senior IPS officer Jacob Thomas to relieve him from the Vigilance director post, Dr Thomas is sticking to his stand to move out of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. A formal decision on Dr Jacob Thomas’s request was pending with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, sources said and added that it need not be discussed in the Cabinet.

Even after the decision of the CPM leadership, including that of veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan that Dr Jacob Thomas should continue as Vigilance director, Dr Thomas conveyed that he won’t go back on his decision. Earlier in the day, Mr Thomas told the media that he would stick to his decision. Justifying the change in his stand that he would not be moved by the allegations by vested interests, Dr Thomas said, “every day it is a new sky and a new earth. Yesterday’s truth may not be today’s.”

Meanwhile, a section of government officers feels that it was  a tactical move by Dr Thomas to reinforce his credibility,  especially since certain allegations had surfaced against him in connection with his tenure as port director. They feel that Dr Thomas will fall in line with the government’s order. Otherwise, he will have to go on leave or opt for voluntary retirement from service.

In case the government needs to replace him, any of the other DGP-rank officers may be considered for the post. Other than state police chief Loknath Behera, the other DGP-rank officers in the state are excise commissioner Rishi Raj Singh, Fire and Rescue Services commandant-general A. Hemachandran, State Crime Records Bureau director Shanker Reddy, DGP headquarters Rajesh Dewan and  DGP coastal security Mohammed Yasin. Former state police chief T.P. Senkumar,  who is now on leave, won't be considered as the chief minister had openly expressed his displeasure of him.