Thiruvananthapuram: Jacob Thomas, who returned after two and a half months leave, on Monday took over as Institute of Management in Government (IMG) director. The officer who was appointed for one year term, however, said there was no commitment that he would complete the entire tenure. The DGP did not hide his displeasure over the appointment to the IMG director’s post which is normally given to officers who are sidelined. When asked the reason behind shifting him from a high profile position of director of Vigilanc and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) he said;''I will disclose the reason later. These are not my decisions. Peoples well being is all that I have in mind.”
The former VACB director hinted that he would reveal more details in his next book. Jacob Thomas who had gone on a long leave on the directions of the government while being the VACB director, had written a letter to the government seeking to know what position he would be getting on his return from leave. Since the government had not issued any order shifting him from the VACB director's post, he wrote to the private secretary to the chief minister and chief secretary seeking clarification on the status of his posting.
Thomas while being the director of Vigilance and Anti Corruptoin Bureau had first taken leave on April 1 under instructions from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Though the officer had then cited personal reasons for taking long leave, it was no secret that the adverse observations of the High Court and a series of controversies related to IPS-IAS spat had caused huge embarrassment to the government.
Thomas extended leave by a month again on May 2. The officer had extended leave for the third time as there was no suitable post available the department to accommodate him. He is the second senior most IPS officer in the state after State Police Chief T P Senkumar who attains superannuation on June 30. It may be recalled that there were sharp differences between Jacob Thomas and the home department on vigilance cases pertaining to E P Jayarajan, K M Mani, sports lottery and controversy related to IAS officers. A section of CPM leaders had strongly opposed his reinstatement as VACB director.
