Kottayam, 17 September (H.S.): A vigilance court in Kottayam on Thursday found former Kerala Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary guilty in a disproportionate assets case involving alleged illegal wealth of ₹64.70 lakh.

The case related to assets acquired between January 2003 and July 2007, when Thachankary held various official positions. The investigation was completed and a charge sheet filed in 2013.

The prosecution alleged that Thachankary had misused his official position to accumulate assets far beyond his known sources of income. Investigators found expenditure and assets worth ₹64.70 lakh for which he could not provide satisfactory proof of legitimate income.

According to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, the assets accumulated by Thachankary during the period under scrutiny were 135.80 per cent higher than his known income.

The court is expected to pronounce the sentence at 2 pm. When asked whether he had anything to say before sentencing, Thachankary cited his health condition. He informed the court that he had undergone cardiac surgery and experienced chest pain two days ago.

The prosecution sought the maximum permissible punishment, arguing that Thachankary had abused his position as a senior police officer.

The investigation was conducted by a team headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police after Thachankary was promoted as Deputy Inspector General of Police in 2007. The probe examined the acquisition of houses, flats and other properties allegedly disproportionate to his income while in service.

A former joint secretary in the Home Department was among the prosecution witnesses examined during the trial. The defence examined a former additional chief secretary, a former additional DGP, Income Tax officials and Thachankary’s sister.

The investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by Bobby Kuruvilla, who alleged that Thachankary had amassed residential properties, flats and land that were inconsistent with his declared earnings.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman