Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Former Keralam DGP Sentenced Four Years in Assets Case
A court in Kottayam found former police chief Tomin J Thachankary guilty in a wealth case.
The case examined money and property he had between 2003 and 2007.
Investigators first said the unexplained wealth was about Rs 64.70 lakh.
After studying the evidence, the court calculated the unexplained amount at about Rs 30.85 lakh.
The court sentenced him to four years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh.
Thachankary asked the court to consider his health, but prosecutors opposed leniency because he had held a senior public position.
He was sent to Poojapura Central Jail and later appealed to the Kerala High Court.
The complainants said they were satisfied and planned to pursue allegations covering other years.
A Kottayam Vigilance Court sentenced former DGP Tomin J Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment.
The court imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court calculated unexplained assets at Rs 30,84,892.39, or 52.33 percent of known income.
Investigators initially alleged Rs 64.70 lakh in unexplained assets and a 135.80 percent excess during 2003-2007.
Thachankary was shifted to Poojapura Central Jail and approached the Kerala High Court in appeal.
- Who
- Former Kerala-cadre IPS officer and DGP-rank official Tomin J Thachankary; the case was pursued by complainants Bobby Kuruvila and Alexander Kuruvila.
- What
- Thachankary was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment with a Rs 30.84 lakh fine for disproportionate assets.
- When
- The assets were examined for 2003-2007; the verdict was delivered on Thursday, September 17, and an appeal was filed on Friday.
- Where
- The verdict was delivered by the Kottayam Vigilance Court, and Thachankary was sent to Poojapura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- The court found that his assets exceeded what could be explained by his known income.
Prosecution and Complainants
Accused and Defence Position
Appropriate punishment
Prosecution and Complainants
The prosecution argued that Thachankary deserved no leniency because he had held senior police positions and public office carried a duty of integrity. The court said a deterrent sentence was warranted.
Accused and Defence Position
Thachankary asked the court to consider his health condition while deciding the sentence.
Amount of disproportionate assets
Prosecution and Complainants
The investigation initially alleged Rs 64.70 lakh in unexplained assets and a 135.80 percent excess over known income.
Accused and Defence Position
The court reduced the original calculation to Rs 30,84,892.39 after granting adjustments supported by the evidence, while still finding a disproportionate amount.
Scope of further action
Prosecution and Complainants
The complainants said the investigation covered only 2003-2007 and planned to approach the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau over alleged wealth or corruption during later years.
Accused and Defence Position
The reported conviction and appeal concern the specific period and evidence examined in this case; no court finding on the alleged later conduct was reported.
- Sentence
- Four years of rigorous imprisonment
- Fine
- Rs 30.84 lakh
- Court calculation
- Rs 30,84,892.39 in disproportionate assets, equal to 52.33 percent of known income
- Initial allegation
- Rs 64.70 lakh in unexplained assets and 135.80 percent excess over known income
- Check period
- 2003 to 2007
- Trial evidence
- 96 prosecution witnesses, 271 prosecution documents, 23 defence witnesses and 55 defence documents
- Appeal
- Thachankary approached the Kerala High Court after being sent to Poojapura Central Jail
