Kerala High Court suspends sentence in former DGP's disproportionate assets case

The Kerala High Court has suspended the sentence imposed on former Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary in connection with a disproportionate assets case, accepting grounds raised in his appeal against the conviction.

Thachankary's legal challenge centered on procedural irregularities in the sanction order that authorized his prosecution under anti-corruption statutes. The former police chief argued that the order failed to meet statutory requirements, raising questions about the validity of the proceedings against him.

Beyond procedural concerns, Thachankary contested the methodology employed by prosecutors in calculating his financial standing. He alleged significant miscalculations regarding rental income, property income, and monetary transfers from relatives, which were cited in establishing the accumulation of disproportionate assets. The former DGP further disputed the legitimacy of properties attributed to his wife as part of the assets under scrutiny.

The high court's decision to suspend the sentence reflects the court's assessment that sufficient grounds exist in the appeal to warrant relief pending further proceedings. The development represents a significant setback for the prosecution's case against the senior retired police officer.