Chandy downplays IPS officer's alleged move for legal action

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today played down controversial IPS officer Jacob Thomas's move to seek legal action against him, saying that "sanction will be given at that moment itself when permission is sought."
"I do not know whether the Officer had sought permission for any legal action. But it will be given within one second if it is sought," he said at a press conference here.
He was responding to questions regarding media reports that DGP rank IPS officer Jacob Thomas, presently Managing Director of Kerala Police Housing and Construction Corporation, has sought permission from the Chief Secretary through a letter to file a defamation case against the Chief Minister.

Chandy also said the Chief Secretary had not said anything about Thomas's letter to him.
Thomas's move come in the wake of criticism by Chandy on the Officer's refusal to grant No Objection Certificates to at least 70 builders for not having safety standards when he was the Director of Kerala Fire and Rescue Services.
Chandy said his past statement that 'government knew how to handle officers' was with good intention.

Media reports said that Thomas, in his letter, had stated that if Chief Minister does not withdraw his statement, he would be forced to file a defamation case against him.

Thomas, who was earlier with the vigilance, had been shifted to the Fire and rescue department after he reportedly took some strong stand against K M Mani, who was forced to resign as Finance minister in the bar bribery case.
Answering questions on the issue of bribe charges against the Excise minister, Chandy said his government is committed to deal firmly with corruption, "but no one can weaken us by levelling baseless corruption charges."
"Corruption and corruption charges are different," he said.