A Kottayam Vigilance Court has sentenced retired Kerala DGP Tomin J. Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment for holding assets disproportionate to his income. This ruling concludes a legal process concerning corruption charges from 2003 to 2007. The former police officer has already filed an appeal against the verdict in the Kerala High Court.
The Kottayam Vigilance Court on Thursday delivered a verdict sentencing former Kerala Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment. Judge K.V. Rajanish presided over the case, which focused on charges that the officer had acquired assets beyond his known income sources between 2003 and 2007. Alongside the jail term, the court imposed a fine of ₹30.84 lakh. This ruling is notable as it involves the conviction of an official who held the rank of DGP, highlighting the application of the Prevention of Corruption Act to high-ranking civil servants.
The case is the outcome of a legal battle spanning nearly 36 years, initiated by a complaint from Alappuzha resident Bobby Kuruvila. The dispute traces its origins to 1990, when Thachankary was serving as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. The complainant had alleged that the official had targeted his family with fabricated criminal cases and harassment during that time. Following the court's sentencing, the former officer was remanded to the Poojappura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram.
Legal proceedings are expected to continue as the defense team filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court on Friday to challenge the lower court's decision. While this verdict addresses the specific period of 2003 to 2007, the complainant has expressed interest in pursuing further allegations related to the officer's professional conduct from 2007 until his eventual retirement. The case serves as an example of the long-term legal processes involved in public accountability matters in India, where litigations against state authorities can often extend over decades.