NEW DELHI: The Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in Kottayam on Thursday (Sept 17) sentenced retired Keralam Director General of Police (DGP) Tomin J. Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment in a disproportionate assets (DA) case registered nearly two decades ago.
Vigilance Judge KV Rejanish also imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh on the retired IPS officer. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional two months of imprisonment for Thachankary.
Following the verdict, Thachankary is transferred to the Thiruvananthapuram Central Jail.
He is the first officer of DGP rank in Keralam’s history to be convicted and sentenced in a corruption case.
Given that the sentence is longer than three years, Thachankary will have to approach the Kerala High Court for bail.
Earlier, the court found Thachankary guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case was registered by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) based on a complaint filed by anti-corruption activist Bobby Kuruvila.
The investigation proved that between January 1, 2003, and July 7, 2007, Thachankary amassed assets, including houses, flats, and properties, valued at Rs 64.70 lakh, which was 135.80% in excess of his known legal sources of income.
Thachankary moved multiple legal channels, including the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court, trying to secure a discharge or a reinvestigation by arguing the wealth came from ancestral properties and family gifts. All pleas were ultimately rejected.
Before the quantum of the sentence was announced, Thachankary pleaded leniency, informing the court that he was unwell and had experienced chest pain two days prior.
However, the prosecution argued against any leniency due to the exceptionally high position he held in the state police force.
Agreeing with the prosecution, Judge KV Rejanish proceeded with the four-year sentence. - The Statesman/ANN
