Kochi: The Regional Passport Office here has
urged the Kochi City Police Commissioner to pass on the
sought information on suspended IPS Officer Tomin J
Thachankary, who had applied for a fresh passport.
In a communication sent to the Police Commissioner`s
office, the Regional Passport Officer has asked police
authorities to pass on the information sought as expeditiously
as possible, Passport office sources said.
Thachankary had been suspended after he undertook a
foreign trip when he was the Kannur IGP, without informing the
Government.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in Kerala had in
February recommended to the state Home department for
prosecution of Thachankary for allegedly amassing wealth
disproportionate to his income.
According to the report, Thachankary was found to have
amassed disproportionate wealth to the tune of Rs 79 lakh.
The National Investigation Agency has questioned him for
his alleged association with certain people having terror
links whom he had met during his Qatar visit last year.
Passport authorities had referred his application for a
fresh passport to the City Police Commissioner on February 21
after it was found that he had allegedly suppressed some
`vital information`.
Thanchankary had applied for a fresh passport on Feb 9
after he had exhausted the pages of his current passport. In
the relevant columns relating to government service and
criminal cases pending, he had replied in the negative.
On a computer search of his previous application, it was
found that he was a government servant, following which a
showcause notice was issued to him for giving incorrect
information.
Thanchankary then produced a NOC (No objection
certificate) from Additional DGP Mahesh Kumar Singala which
stated the department had no objection for his application,
which in effect was recommending issue of passport to
Thachankary.
Singala had stated Thachankary`s application does not
invite provisions under Para 6 (2)F of the Passport Act
(ie there is no criminal proceedings against the person).
However, the passport office authorities decided not
to issue a fresh passport under `Tatkal` to Thachankary and to
refer the matter to the Kochi City Police Commissioner as
there was `prima facie suppression of vital information` that
Thachankary was not a government servant and there were no
criminal cases against him.
Singala filed another statement to the passport office
stating that he had only meant that there was no objection in
giving additional pages or additional booklet for the present
passport.
PTI
