Thachankary removed as Transport Commissioner

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19: Senior IPS officer Tominc J Thachankary, who courted controversy by distributing cakes and sweets on his birthday in RTO offices in Kerala, was today removed as Transport Commissioner.

A decision in this regard was today taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The demand for his removal was raised by Transport minister, A K Saseendran. ADGP S Ananthakrishnan has been appointed as the new Transport Commissioner. Confirming Thachankary's removal from the post, the Transport Minister told reporters "He is no more the Transport commissioner.When a new government comes, officials are shifted which is a normal procedure.

There was some delay in this case." When asked if he was happy with the decision, Saseendran said he was "neither happy, nor sad." Saseendran and Thachankary were at loggerheads after the latter had reportedly failed to consult the minister before announcing various initiatives of the Transport department including the "No helmet, no petrol" proposal.

Thachankary had distributed sweets at various functions in Kochi, while elsewhere in the state Motor vehicles department staff handed down cakes and sweets on his birthday. When the issue became controversial, he had stated they were distributed with "good intention".

The official had also tendered regret for his action. The minister had also asked Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand to examine if the official had flouted government norms while celebrating his birthday. The 1984-batch IPS officer has been dogged by controversies, ranging from allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and making frequent trips abroad without seeking government's permission.

PTI