Kerala

Top police officer investigating cases against Kerala Finance Minister, bureaucrats 'promoted,' relieved of cases

Written by : TNM

The News Minute| January 21, 2015 | 11.30 pm ISTThe Kerala government has decided to promote Vigilance Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jacob Thomas, who was investigating bar bribe case, as the Director General of Police (DGP).The move comes in the midst of allegations that there was a concerted effort to thwart investigations into the case.Jacob Thomas, known to be an upright officer, was instrumental in making Finance Minister K M Mani the main accused in the bar bribe case investigation.Thomas was investigating the case against the Finance Minister, in which a bar owner Biju Ramesh had first alleged that Rs 1 crore had been handed over to the minister as bribe to renew licences to more than 400 liquor bars that had been closed down in the state.On Tuesday, Biju Ramesh released audio tapes that revealed a discussion among bar owners about Rs 5 crore that had allegedly been given to the Finance Minister.Jacob Thomas' promotion that comes at a time when the whistleblower is handing over important evidence has made the opposition cry foul. Jacob Thomas, was Lokayuktha ADGP and was appointed as vigilance ADGP after Ramesh Chennithala took charge as the home minister.Thomas had been widely appreciated for his enquiry in case against Rahul R Nair IPS for allegedly taking bribe from quarry owners, on the basis of which he was suspended and in the disproportionate wealth case against PWD secretary T O SoorajTweet

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