CM seeks legal advice on probing Vigilance chief Jacob Thomas

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday sought legal advice on a recommendation for a probe into a contract issued during Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Jacob Thomas' earlier posting that caused a loss to the exchequer.

Vijayan forwarded the report, submitted by Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand in December last, to the Director General of Prosecution for advice.

The report prepared by the Finance Department headed by Additional Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham suggested removal of Thomas from the present post.

Senior Indian Police Service officer Thomas, as Ports Director a few years ago, was accused of causing financial loss to the state.

The relations between Indian Administrative Service officials and Thomas are not good, with the former last month announcing daylong leave to protest Thomas' alleged vendetta against top IAS officials. The protest was, however, called off after Vijayan intervened.

After the Vigilance Department conducted searches at the residences of K.M. Abraham and Additional Chief Secretary Labour Tom Jose in 2016, IAS officers in the State are up in arms against Thomas.