KOCHI: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday submitted before the Kerala High Court that no offences relating to corruption or loss sustained by the government was proved in the quick verification done by it in the alleged corruption against ADGP Jacob Thomas. The VACB filed the statement in response to a petition filed by K Sathyan, Kuthuparamba, Kannur, seeking a directive to the Vigilance to register First Information Report against Jacob Thomas based on his complaint dated March 25,2014. The petitioner pointed out that the government inspection report in 2013 against the ADGP is a conclusive report with respect to the foul play that happened in the departments of ports while the officer was the director of the department.
In a report, V N Sasidharan, Superintendent of VACB, stated that the inquiry officer recommended that there was no scope for registering a case.
The inquiry officer has recommended departmental action based on the remarks by the inspection wing of the Store Purchase Wing.
The vigilance also produced the quick verification report before the court. In the quick verification, the vigilance recorded the statement of three witnesses and 58 records were verified.
The court had directed the state to file a report explaining what action had been taken against Jacob Thomas based on the complaint.
The petitioner pointed out that there was corruption in the purchases and procurement initiated during Jacob Thomas’s stint. The department of ports purchased three stage air breathing compressors and diving equipment flouting rules. No tender was invited and it resulted in huge loss to the state exchequer. Similarly, in the purchase of furniture from Forest Industries Travancore Ltd for the new office building at Valiyathura port, no tender was invited. The report clearly stated that the whole purchase of furniture appeared to be fraudulent or intentional, the government inspection report stated.