Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday directed the state police chief Loknath Behera to register a criminal case against Director General of Police Jacob Thomas, presently posted as the director of Institute of Management in Government in Thiruvananthapuram.
The reason for this action is a violation of service rules as Thomas did not follow the basic process when he released two books recently.
After the release of his first book, allegedly in breach of the norms, the state government appointed then Home Secretary Nalini Netto to look into the matter.
The book titled Sravukelku Opam Neenthumpol (Swimming With The Sharks) was released in May in Thiruvananthapuram. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had backed off from releasing the book at the eleventh hour.
After Nalini Netto gave an adverse report, a three member committee under the Law Secretary was set up to probe the case and it also confirmed that there were lapses.
It was after this that the CM issued the orders for registering a criminal case and also for departmental action against Thomas.
In his reaction, Thomas told the media he is not aware of any action being taken.
The second book Karyavum Karanavum- Neritta Velluvilikal (the matter and the reason, challenges faced) was released in Kochi on November 17.
Thomas was appointed as head of Vigilance the day the Left Democratic Front government assumed office last year, but a few months back, he was shifted out and made the director of IMG.
In authoring a non-fiction book while in service, the top police official may have violated more than one protocol.
The CM's decision is said to be in response to a letter from Congress MLA KC Joseph, who alleged that the government had not granted permission to Jacob Thomas to author the book. And by doing so, the officer's act is in violation of the Official Secrets Act, the MLA pointed out.
(With IANS inputs)