Tom Jose may be suspended; Vigilance will support submit report next week

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government may soon take action against Labour department additional chief secretary Tom Jose in the wake of Disproportionate Assets Case filed against him. There are hints that he may be suspended based on the Vigilance report.

The Vigilance will hand over the report to the government on Sunday as it is Diwali holidays now.

The report may recommend that Tom Jose be removed from the service as he is found to have amassed Rs 1.19 crore wealth disproportionate to his source of income. The report will be submitted to the government via the home secretary. As there is no hindrance in taking action against IAS officers in Kerala, the government will take action after considering the recommendations of the home secretary and chief secretary.

As per rules action can be taken against IAS officers with the knowledge of the Centre.

Vigilance sleuths on Friday conducted searches at the residence and office of a top Kerala IAS officer Tom Jose in connection with disproportionate assets case, even as the official denied any wrong doing and described it as "deliberate" attempt to tarnish his image.

A day after Vigilance and Anti Corruption bureau filed an FIR in the Mutvattupzha court, officials armed with search warrants conducted simultaneous searches at the flats of Jose at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and his office at the State Secretariat.
The house of his wife at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur was also searched, vigilance sources said.

The FIR alleged that the officer had committed offence punishable under Prevention of Corruption Act. Reacting sharply to the development, Tom Jose, Additional Chief Secretary (Labour) said the case had been inquired by the Home Secretary much earlier and had been closed.

"All these allegations were examined by Home secretary earlier and I had given my property statement from 2010
There is nothing new. This is a deliberate attempt to humiliate me", he said adding they (vigilance) have come with a search warrant with yesterday's date.

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