Setback in CAT for suspended Kerala cop

KOCHI - Suspended Inspector General of Police Tomin J. Thachenkery Tuesday suffered a setback when the state government told the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that he could not be reinstated as a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against him might be thwarted.

The government made known its views before a three-member CAT bench before which Thachenkery had filed a case asking for his reinstatement.

Thachenkery was suspended in April after he did not take official permission for a trip to the Middle East, including Doha.

He suffered another blow in June when Home Secretary G.K.Pillai asked for an enquiry by the NIA on the allegations that Thachenkery had met people with suspected terror links during his visit to Qatar.

Indian embassy officials in Qatar had given this information to the centre.

The government informed the CAT bench that since the NIA probe had already begun, there was the likelihood that he might influence the probe against him if taken back into service.

The hearing concluded Tuesday and the verdict is expected in the next few days.