Kottayam, 17 September (H.S.): A vigilance court in Kottayam has sentenced former Kerala Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary to four years’ imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case, marking the conclusion of a two-decade-long legal process.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹31 lakh and ordered that Thachankary undergo additional imprisonment if he failed to pay the amount. He will be shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison.

The court had earlier found him guilty of accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income while holding public office. Before pronouncing the sentence, the judge asked Thachankary whether he had anything to say.

Thachankary sought leniency on health grounds, telling the court that he had undergone heart surgery and experienced chest pain two days earlier. The prosecution, however, sought the maximum punishment, arguing that he had misused his official position.

The court observed that Thachankary had held a senior position in the State police and was therefore not entitled to any concession in sentencing. He became the first officer of DGP rank in Kerala to be convicted and sentenced in a corruption case.

The case related to the alleged accumulation of illegal assets worth ₹64.70 lakh between January 2003 and July 2007. Investigators found expenditure and assets of that value, but Thachankary could not satisfactorily explain the sources of the money. The Vigilance team concluded that his disproportionate assets amounted to 135.80 per cent of his known income during the period under scrutiny.

The investigation was conducted by a team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police after Thachankary was promoted as Deputy Inspector General in 2007.

Several senior government, police and Income Tax officials testified during the trial. The defence also examined Thachankary’s sister. The investigation was launched following a complaint by Bobby Kuruvila alleging that Thachankary had acquired houses, flats and other properties beyond his legitimate income while in service.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman