Kerala High Court Questions Former DGPs Request for Foreign Travel Amid Health Claims

Kochi, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : The Kerala High Court raised concerns on Monday regarding former police chief Tomin J. Thachankary’s request to travel abroad for work while he claims to have been seriously ill during his imprisonment. Justice A. Badaruddeen highlighted the contradictions between Thachankary’s health claims and his plans to seek employment overseas after being granted bail.

During his 28-day custody, Thachankary was hospitalized, prompting the judge to question how he could now request permission to travel abroad for work. The court noted that it appears he has presented conflicting statements.

To clarify the situation, the court has ordered the jail superintendent to submit a report detailing the number of days Thachankary spent in the jail hospital, the illnesses he was treated for, and the duration he remained outside the hospital during his four weeks of detention.

This report will assist the court in determining the validity of Thachankary’s request to travel abroad. The next hearing is scheduled for November 6.

Thachankary, who has filed a petition in the High Court, seeks to relax a bail condition that prohibits him from leaving the country without court approval, as he intends to return to work.

He was sentenced to four years in prison and fined ₹30.84 lakh by a special judge in Kottayam for possessing assets beyond his known income, under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The High Court suspended his sentence and granted bail on October 15, but the restriction on leaving India without permission remains in effect.

This case has garnered significant attention, as Thachankary is the first retired police officer in Kerala to be imprisoned after a conviction. His recent application has prompted the High Court to review the duration of his custody and the medical treatment he received while incarcerated.