Former DGP Tomin Thachankary gets four years in jail in disproportionate assets case, fined Rs 30.84 lakh

KOTTAYAM: Former DGP Tomin J. Thachankary has been sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 30.84 lakh in a disproportionate assets case. The verdict was delivered by Kottayam Vigilance Special Judge K.V. Rajaneesh on Thursday. Thachankary (63) was taken into custody following the verdict and shifted to Poojappura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo an additional two months in prison.

Thachankary is the first officer in Kerala who had served as DGP to be convicted and sentenced in a corruption case. The Vigilance had alleged that, while serving as an IG, he acquired assets 135 per cent in excess of his known income between January 1, 2003, and July 7, 2007.

The complaint that led to the case was filed by Bobby Kuruvila of Alappuzha. According to the prosecution, Thachankary had an income of Rs 47.64 lakh from his salary, agriculture and other sources between 2003 and 2007. However, his total expenditure during the period was estimated at Rs 1.02 crore, while assets worth Rs 64.70 lakh were allegedly disproportionate to his known income.

The court found Rs 30.84 lakh to be disproportionate assets. The trial examined 96 prosecution witnesses and 271 documents. Seven people who had sold properties to Thachankary turned hostile during the trial, while former Additional Chief Secretary T.K. Jose and former DGP S. Ananthakrishnan gave evidence in his favour.

When the court found him guilty in the morning, Thachankary cited health concerns and told the court that he had undergone open-heart surgery and experienced chest pain two days earlier. The court later proceeded with the sentencing. Vigilance Public Prosecutor K.K. Sreekanth appeared for the prosecution.

Prosecution’s financial arguments

(Amounts in lakh)

• Amount spent on four acres of land in Thammanam through 18 sale deeds — 35
• Registration fee for a flat in Thiruvananthapuram gifted by his father — 1.75
• Gift given to his wife — 52.50
• Foreign travel expenses — 6.75
• Income tax paid — 1.85
• Expenses for various other purposes — 3.60

“The person responsible for protecting the lives and property of people indulged in corruption and therefore does not deserve any consideration,” Judge K.V. Rajaneesh said.

Bobby Kuruvila said the case covered only the assets accumulated up to 2007 and that the Vigilance should also investigate Thachankary’s assets acquired after that period until his retirement. He said he would submit a complaint to the Vigilance in this regard.

Prosecutor K.K. Sreekanth said there had been attempts to prevent several documents from reaching the prosecution during the nine-month trial and that proving the case through the available records had been difficult.