Kerala court sentences ex-DGP Tomin Thachankary to 4 years jail in disproportionate assets case

A vigilance court in Kerala on Thursday sentenced former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) Tomin J Thachankary to four years rigorous imprisonment for amassing assets disproportionate to his wealth [State of Kerala v.Tomin J Thachankary]..Kottayam Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) KV Rajaneesh passed the verdict after finding that there was a disproportionate income of over ₹30 lakh, which comes up to over 50% of his known income at the time. "The convict was a senior officer of the Indian Police Service and had held several responsible positions during his service career, including 145 the rank of Director General of Police, Kerala. The higher the public office held, greater is the obligation to maintain the highest standards of integrity and probity. The disproportion of ₹30,84,892.39, constituting 52.33% of the known income, is neither marginal nor insignificant. It represents the unexplained enrichment accumulated during the check period from 2003 to 2007, when the said amount had substantial value," the Court's judgment stated. .The higher the public office held, greater is the obligation to maintain the highest standards of integrity and probity.Kerala Court.While Thachankary requested for a lighter sentence citing medical ailments, the Court opined that his position did not warrant leniency especially considering the magnitude of his abuse of power. "This Court has also considered whether any circumstance warrants leniency, and found none. Having regard to the magnitude of the disproportion, the value of the amount at the relevant time, the status and responsibility of the convict, the breach of the public trust attached to his office, a deterrent sentence is warranted. The sentence must convey that public office is a position of trust and authority and cannot be used as a means for illicit enrichment, and that persons occupying high public offices cannot expect undue leniency for abuse of that position. So this Court finds that rigorous imprisonment for four years is just and proportionate to the gravity of the offence", the judgment stated. .The Court also imposed a fine of ₹30,84,892 on Thachankary, the exact amount of disproportionate assets it found. .The case originated from a complaint filed by Bobby Kuruvila, who claimed to be an anti-corruption crusader. He alleged that Thachankary had acquired houses, flats and other properties during his service disproportionate to his known income. A vigilance investigation launched subsequently found that Thachankary had acquired assets worth over ₹64 lakh between 2003 and 2007, which were 135.80 percent over his known income.Thachankary later moved the Vigilance Court seeking discharge, claiming that the assets were acquired through family shares and gifts. However, the Court rejected his plea. In 2021, the State government granted sanction for further investigation by a special unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). However, Kuruvila moved the Kerala High Court alleging that this was a move to delay the trial. In August 2025, the a Division Bench allowed the petition and set aside the government order allowing further investigation. The High Court also ordered a time-bound conclusion of the trial, on which the today's verdict was pronounced. .Thachankary was represented by advocates VN Anilkumar and Cimil C Kottalil. Public Prosecutor Sreekanth KK appeared for the State prosecution. .[Read Judgment]