The Kerala High Court, on Tuesday, initiated contempt of court proceedings against former Vigilance Department Director and Director General of Police Jacob Thomas for levelling accusations against sitting judges.
This comes weeks after Jacob Thomas made claims against two sitting HC judges - Justice P Ubaid and Justice Abraham Mathew, and Lokayukta Pius C Kuriakose, in a letter he sent to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). In the complaint filed on March 9, Jacob had alleged that many judgements by the two judges had "demoralised" him and constrained officials of the Vigilance Department.
According to reports, the HC initiated criminal contempt proceedings against the DGP and asked him to appear before the court on April 2. The HC reportedly observed that the allegations, prima facie constitute contempt.
HC lawyer BH Mansoor had moved a contempt petition against Jacob , alleging that his remarks were against the provisions of The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985.
In the complaint he filed with CVC, he alleged that there is a conspiracy to harass him in order to save the accused and offenders mentioned in various cases which are registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“There have been concerted actions to harass and silence me in my stringent actions against maladministration and corruption. In addition to silencing me through harassment, intimidation and defamation, the investigations led by me or participated by me had been stopped or nullified by the interested parties through highly collusive and dangerous conspiracies,” read his petition.
He adds: “I responsibly submit that various sacred pillars of our democracy have taken respective part in this conspiracy which is highly alarming and needs to be probed."
Thomas said that the judges had made observations against him in a number of cases including the EP Jayarajan case, Vigilance Raj in Kerala, Pattoor case, Anoop Jacob case, Battery case and Kannur Youth Festival case. In the letter, Jacob Thomas alleged that there were efforts to "harass and silence" him for his actions against the corrupt.
He is currently placed under suspension, after he criticised the state government rescue measures during Cyclone Ockhi that lashed Kerala in December last year.