THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DGP Jacob Thomas, who was on a two-and-half months leave, took charge as the Managing Director of the Institute of Management in Government (IMG) here on Monday. Following the government order issued in the morning, Thomas assumed office around 11.30 am.
The government had asked Thomas to go on leave at the end of March after the High Court criticised his style of functioning as the Vigilance Director.
Following this, the then State Police Chief Loknath Behera was given the additional charge. Later, when T P Senkumar got reinstated as the police chief, Behera was given full responsibility as Vigilance Director.
Thomas told reporters he is not in a ‘cage’ now and will elaborate the reason for removing him from his earlier post of Vigilance Director at the appropriate time. “Let’s see whether the government or I will explain things first,” Thomas said. “However, all these things will be included in my new book.”
Earlier, the Opposition had criticised the government stating Thomas was a ‘caged parrot.’
“IMG has definite management principles on the law and order mechanism of the state,” he said. “I’m always with the people and it will be continued with. I have my freedom to travel through a unique and unusual path.”
When reporters asked him about his removal as the Vigilance Director being attributed to the reinstatement of DGP T P Senkumar, he hinted the offices of IMG and Vigilance headquarters are located very close to each other and both offices are separated by a single wall.
Incidentally, Thomas was appointed the IMG director after elevating him to a cadre post for a year. At present, only Senkumar and Behera serve in cadre posts. The chances of Thomas becoming the next State Police Chief appears bleak even though he is the seniormost officer after Senkumar retires on June 30.
“Civil service should have only two kids. Now, a third kid has been born,” he said referring indirectly on the new cadre post allotted to him by the government apart from the existing two. Thomas also said he was unsure of completing the tenure as the IMG Director. IMG gives expert training to government staff pertaining to management skills. Satyajith Rajan was serving as the Director after Senkumar stepped down from the post to join as the State Police Chief. Last Friday, Thomas wrote to the government seeking clarity over his posting as his leave expired last Saturday.