Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Viajayan has ordered action against Director General of Police Jacob Thomas for for publishing his autobiography violating the All India Service (AIS) Conduct Rules, 1968.

According to an inquiry report by a three-member committee, headed by additional chief secretary Subrata Biswas, the former director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) had violated service rules while publishing his controversial service story 'Sravukalku Oppam Neenthumbol' (Swimming with Sharks). Law secretary B.G. Harindranath and director of public relations K. Ambadi were also part of the committee.

The senior IPS officer had penned the book in when he was forced to stay off work following an official rejig after the unceremonious removal of the then state police chief TP Senkumar soon after the LDF government had come to power in Kerala.

The committee had also recommended criminal action against Jacob Thomas. He may also face departmental inquiry for violation of service rules. As per the committee, the officer had committed offenses that could invite imprisonment of up to two years.

The committee had found that fifty pages of the book, purportedly a revelatory tale of his days in high office, contained disclosures and controversial remarks that violated the All India Service (AIS) Conduct Rules, 1968.

Publication of sensitive information pertaining to the Pattoor land grab case, which is under probe, was construed as violation of AIS conduct rules. Harsh criticisms against former excise minister K. Babu in the bar scam was also in violation of rules as the case was still pending before the court, the committee said.

The allegation in the book that the Lokayukta buried the files pertaining to the case was highly inappropriate. In many vigilance cases, some of which are under the process of quick verification, the author appeared to be judgmental while coming up with his own verdicts, the panel had found out.

Though the DGP had sought permission to write a book in October 2016, there was substantial evidence to prove that he failed to stick to service norms, the panel added.

In his defense, Thomas Jacob argued that since the book was penned while he was on leave, it could not be deemed violation of service rules. Moreover, currently he does not hold any position in the state police force, he added.

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