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Former DGP Tomin Thachankary sentenced to four years in disproportionate assets case

Kottayam, Sep 17 (UNI) Former Kerala Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary was sentenced to four years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 30,84,892 by the Kottayam Vigilance Court in a disproportionate assets case.
The court held that Thachankary did not deserve any concession in punishment, considering the seriousness of the offence allegedly committed while he was occupying a high-ranking official position. He was taken into custody soon after the verdict and will be shifted to Poojappura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram.
The sentence was pronounced by Kottayam Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) K.V. Rajaneesh. The court had earlier found Thachankary guilty after concluding the trial.
Thachankary had pleaded for maximum leniency, citing serious health problems, and submitted medical documents before the court. The court, however, declined to reduce the punishment.
The case pertains to the period from January 2003 to July 2007, when Thachankary was alleged to have accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Vigilance found unexplained assets and expenditure worth Rs 64.70 lakh during the check period.
According to the Vigilance investigation, the disproportionate assets amounted to 135.80 per cent of his known sources of income. The investigation was intensified after Thachankary was promoted as Deputy Inspector General in 2007.
The Vigilance completed the investigation and filed the chargesheet in 2013. By then, Thachankary had risen to the post of Additional Director General of Police and subsequently served as State Police Chief.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Bobby Kuruvila alleging that Thachankary had acquired houses, flats and other properties disproportionate to his income while in service.
Thachankary had maintained that the properties were received as family shares and through gifts and had sought discharge from the case. The court had earlier rejected the plea, holding that the chargesheet was legally sustainable.
The trial witnessed extensive examination of witnesses. The prosecution examined, among others, a former Joint Secretary of the Home Department, while the defence examined a former Additional Chief Secretary, a former Additional Director General of Police, Income Tax officials and Thachankary's sister.
The High Court had directed the Vigilance Court to complete the proceedings within a stipulated period. Though the initial deadline for the verdict was June 30, the time was subsequently extended to September 30.
The proceedings had also attracted attention when Thachankary appeared before the court in a private car carrying a board with three stars, similar to the insignia used on his official vehicle while in service.
Vigilance Public Prosecutor Adv K.K. Sreekanth appeared for the prosecution. The sentencing marks one of the rare instances in Kerala of a retired senior-ranking IPS officer being convicted and sentenced in a corruption case.
UNI DS
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