Suspension of senior Kerala cop upheld

KOCHI - Suspended Inspector General of Police, Tomin J. Thachenkery, suffered a serious set back Friday when a full bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) upheld his suspension.

Thachenkery was suspended in April after Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was told that the officer did not take permission for his trip to the Middle-East.

Following his suspension, Thachenkery had approached the CAT for justice.

The CAT ruled that the Chief Minister has all the powers to suspend an officer if there has been a violation in service rules and also asked the ongoing inquiry to be completed in four months’ time.

However, Thachenkery told reporters that he will appeal against the CAT verdict in the Kerala High Court.

Last month, the state government informed the CAT that they are unable to take Thachenkery back into service as the probe by the National Investigation Agency against him might be thwarted.

In June, union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said an enquiry must be conducted by the NIA on the allegations that Thachenkery met men with suspected terror links during his visit to Qatar a couple of months ago.

This decision was arrived at after the Indian embassy officials in Qatar had informed the central government about the same.