DGP Jacob Thomas: From A Poster Boy To A Fall Guy

On 19 December, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala suspended Director General of Police (DGP), Jacob Thomas, who was the director of the Institute of Management of the state government. The anti-corruption crusader, in his previous avatar as the director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) Department, was perceived as the blue-eyed boy of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). As a cumulative effect of many factors, the fortunes of the once poster boy of Kerala have taken a beating. His open attack on the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government's failure at a public function, resulting in his suspension, could be seen as the retaliation of this maverick officer for shunting him to an insignificant role.

The title of Thomas’ autobiography Swimming With Sharks can easily be mistaken as a provocative barb than a mere attention-grabbing tactics. More so, when it is written by a serving officer of a DGP rank whose crusading spirit unnerved not only political leadership but also the civil servants. One of Kerala’s many DGPs, Thomas, has landed in more than a fair share of controversies in his 30 years of service. He, by his uncompromising stand against political interference and outspoken nature, acquired the image of a rebel that he wore as a badge of honour, often endorsed by the CPI-M as it suited the latter’s political agenda. The fact that he was transferred 31 times in his 30 years of service, often within months, speaks volume about his relationship with the politicians at the helm. He is an example of the frequent change in the perception of the powers-that-be on a tough cop, who had a firm viewpoint of his actions.

As an anti-corruption crusader, Thomas established a name, rubbing the erstwhile United Democratic Front Government (UDF), led by Oommen Chandy of the Congress, on the wrong side. The Pinarayi Vijayan government, since taking over in May 2016, had made the best use of Thomas' “crusader against corruption” image to embellish its own clean image aspirations. But the wheel turned a full circle when the LDF government suspended him on 19 December, pending disciplinary action. The charge against the suspended DGP was that "he conducted himself in a manner that was prejudicial to the security of the state". The general perception of the public, however, is that the party and the government who used him in their anti-corruption theatrics has no use for him anymore. Especially, when Thomas doesn't mince his words in expressing his opinion on the LDF government. Maybe, it was the reason why he was dumped as the director of Institute of Management in Government (IMG), an insignificant post for a senior police officer.

Thomas, who was expecting to make a comeback to DVAC Department, must have felt let down when he was posted as director of Institute of Management in government. In his previous posting as the chief of the Kerala Fire Department as also DVAC, he started to court controversies again. "As I come from the land of landslides, I am not afraid of these minor earthquakes," he once commented on the controversies surrounding him. In the press conference immediately after taking charge as the director vigilance, Thomas took out yellow and red cards to explain his policy of “proactive vigilance”. But this police officer who had a yen for teaching and training youth has been red-carded by that very same LDF government.

Thomas' falling from grace and suspension raises a pertinent question, "how long does it take for a good cop to turn bad, if he steadfastly follows his principled stand?" The answer is simple: As long as a cop dances to the tune of the powers-that-be, she/he is a good one.

The possibility of the suspended cop crossing swords with LDF was not wholly unanticipated, though. The tide turned when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan backed off from releasing the service story of Thomas, in which he has narrated his tumultuous days as the chief of DVAC Department. Initially, Vijayan agreed to release the book, which included many incidences in which he clashed with the high and mighty. But the Chief Minister skipped the function on 22 May at the last minute after being advised that the book violates service rules governing government servants, and the Official Secret Act. The book was released in a low-key event despite Vijayan keeping away, but it sold like hot cakes, catching the attention of book lovers and the general public. The media attention and public acclaim was such that it won't be wrong to infer that it further emboldened the police officer to air his views in public without any restraint.

In the book Sravukalkkoppam Neenthumpol (Swimming with Sharks), he narrates many controversial events during the last 30 years of his career, including a spat with former chief minister Oommen Chandy. The book includes attempts to influence the inquiry on bribery allegations against former UDF ministers K Babu and K M Mani. Another incident is the alleged thwarting of anti-corruption drive in Kerala Civil Department by C Divakaran of the Communist Party of India in the previous LDF ministry (2006-2011). The book also deals with the all-powerful sand mafia and behind the scenes story of the sensational arrest of controversial People’s Democratic Party leader Abdul Nassar Madani, an accused in the Coimbatore blast case, from Ernakulum in 1998.

The allusion of sharks in his book will equally fit civil servants and the wily politicians. Heading the DVAC Department, Thomas initiated inquiries against many high-profile civil, including the current Chief Secretary K M Abraham and principal secretary Tom Jose. After he was removed as DVAC chief, the proceedings against 18 IAS officers are at various stages of closure, according a reply received by RTI activist Venugopal. The search operations he conducted in the house of K M Abraham, without getting prior permission from the government, caused a furore in government circles. The top brass in the civil services were up in arms and demanded his ouster, pointing out that the search operations had demoralised the civil servants.

Mounting controversies sullied his image as he initiated inquiries on senior officers on allegedly flimsy grounds. The search operations against K M Abraham, an officer with a clean reputation, is a case in point. Allegations that he acted out of vengeance turned the government’s attention on his actions. In the meanwhile, allegations that his wife Daisy is illegally occupying 151.03 acres of forest land in Karnataka surfaced. His bete-noire K M Abraham's report said that Thomas misused Rs 15 crore as the director of ports. Another embarrassment to the government was Thomas’ complaint to the state Police Chief Loknath Behra that his phone and email communication were being tapped. Repeated adverse comments against the DVAC Department headed by Thomas turned out to be a constant embarrassment to the LDF government. Finally, to save its face the government asked him to go on leave.

On 9 December, at a function to observe anti-corruption day, Thomas criticised the government’s handling of Ockhi cyclone disaster. In his speech, he hit out against the government, alleging that there was a total breakdown in governance, “the government would have acted more swiftly had some rich men gone to sea,” he remarked.

The autobiography created a fan following for Thomas, who was seen as a fighter for the cause of the people. Speculations are rife that he will enter politics. Many believe that his brush with the high and mighty qualify him for a high profile political career. Will he follow in the footsteps of K J Alphons, who is now a minister in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre? (Alphons began his career as a CPI-M MLA). For now, Thomas is tight-lipped about his next move.