Thiruvananthapuram: A senior IPS officer
has landed in trouble with Kerala Chief Minister V S
Achuthanandan ordering a probe into his alleged foreign trip
without taking prior sanction from the government under the
service rules.
Achuthanandan, who was in Delhi for discussions with the
Planning Commission, told reporters that ADGP (Intelligence)
Sibi Mathew had been asked look into the matter.
Asked if any action would be taken against IG (Northern
Range) and Chief of the state Cyber Cell, Tomin J Thachankari,
the chief minister said "let the report come, and I will
inform you (about the next steps)."
The issue surfaced during Achuthanandan`s recent visit to
northern districts when the officer was conspicuous by his
absence.
On inquiry, officials informed the chief minister that
Thachankari was on a foreign tour.
Meanwhile, a Malayalam TV channel reported that the
officer had told it over phone that he and his family members
were in Kashmir and there was no need to create a controversy
since he had availed the leave properly.
Thachankari, who is said to be close to the CPI-M faction
loyal to state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, had often been in
the eye of controversies.
He was under suspension for a few months following a
vigilance probe in a case of amassing wealth disproportionate
to his known sources of income.
The officer was later reinstated based on a High Court
order.
PTI
