Kerala: Defiant IPS official demands to know on what evidence notices were issued to him

Thiruvananthapuram: Refusing to be cowed down by the two show cause notices against him, a defiant DGP Jacob Thomas, who allegedly breached the 'Lakshman Rekha' of government officials, has shot of a letter to the authorities, demanding to know on what evidence the notices were issued.

In his reply to the show cause notices, Thomas, Managing Director of Police Housing Construction Corporation, said government wanted to know on the basis of what evidence he had been served with the notices.

The government should explain, the senior IPS officer said in a letter sent to Chief Secretary, Giji Thomson, who had issued the notices.

The state cabinet had on October 21 decided to seek an explanation from the official for his remarks in connection with his transfer from Kerala Fire and Rescue services allegedly following pressure from the builders lobby.

A second notice was issued after his remarks on the vigilance court verdict caused a flutter.

Meanwhile, the chief secretary's office confirmed the receipt of the reply.

Official sources meanwhile said there was no need to give any evidence to Thomas at this juncture. Government has sought preliminary explanation from him on the basis of his remarks to the media.

Thomas, a former Additional Vigilance Director when the bar bribe scam broke, had been posted as director of Fire and Rescue services recently, before once again being shunted out as Managing director of Kerala Police Housing corporation.

The official had triggered another controversy recently when he remarked that the vigilance court verdict was the 'triumph of truth', further embarrassing a red faced Congress-led UDF government of Oommen Chandy.

The bar scam relates to the charge that Mani had demanded Rs five crore as bribe and accepted Rs one crore from bar hotel owners for renewal of licences last year.

The allegation was levelled by Kerala Bar Hotel Owners' Association Working President Biju Ramesh.