Court dismisses plea seeking probe against Jacob Thomas

Kochi: A vigilance court in Muvattupuzha Tuesday dismissed a petition alleging irregularities by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Jacob Thomas while working as director of ports in the state during 2011-15 and seeking a probe into them.

Dismissing the petition, Vigilance Special judge P Madhavan said, "There is absolutely no material except bald allegations and it is not sufficient to order an enquiry in this respect."

The court said it finds "no material to order an investigation into the allegation."

Petitioner Michael Varghese had alleged that Thomas while working as director of ports during 2011-15 had committed several illegalities and obtained pecuniary advantage for the benefit of private parties.

He had alleged that while holding that post, Thomas had obtained government administrative sanction for setting up solar panels at Valiyathura, Vizhinjam, Beypore and Azheekal port offices and awarded the contracts to SIDCO paying Rs 35 lakh to it in a "hurried manner."

The petitioner also alleged that SIDCO had entrusted the work to a private ltd company.