Kerala Vigilance Director wants to quit post

A day after allegations of financial irregularities cropped up against him, Kerala Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas today wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urging him to relieve him from the post.
Thomas cited personal reasons for his move, official sources said.
Yesterday, the official had dismissed the allegations of financial irregularities against him in connection with a solar power project during his previous stint as the Ports Director. He had also alleged that some vested interests were behind the charges.
The official had said those who indulged in corruption were making all efforts to oust him from the post of Vigilance Director.

The Finance Inspection Wing of the state government had recommended departmental action against him earlier this year for alleged irregularities in setting up solar units at various ports department offices during 2013-14.
The FIW report, prepared during the time of previous Congress-led UDF government, is now pending before the LDF government for further action.
"Some vested interests are behind the allegations. The old FIW report, presented to the government months ago, is being projected as a new one. There is some special interest behind raising the issue now," he had said.
Thomas had launched strong steps against former UDF ministers K M Mani and K Babu in the bar bribery cases.