‘Judges are not fools’: Kerala HC questions former DGP over jail illness and Dubai travel plea

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has questioned former Director General of Police (DGP) Tomin J. Thachankary over his request to lift the foreign travel restrictions imposed on him, pointing to an apparent contradiction between his health claims during imprisonment and his subsequent request to travel abroad.

Justice A. Badharudeen raised the issue while hearing Thachankary's petition seeking permission to travel to Dubai. The former police chief told the court that he had employment with a Dubai-based company and investments linked to another firm in the UAE.

The court questioned how Thachankary could justify seeking medical treatment on health grounds while serving his sentence at Poojappura Central Jail and subsequently seeking permission for foreign travel after his release. During the hearing, the judge remarked that those sitting in court were not lacking in common sense and would not overlook such inconsistencies.

The High Court has directed the superintendent of Poojappura Central Jail to submit a detailed report on Thachankary's medical treatment during his imprisonment. The report must specify how many days he spent inside his prison cell, how many days he was admitted to hospital, the illness for which he sought treatment and details of the medical care provided to him.

Thachankary was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 30,84,892 by the Kottayam Vigilance Court on September 17, 2025, in a disproportionate assets case. He became the first former DGP in Kerala to be imprisoned in a corruption case.

Following his conviction, he was transferred to Poojappura Central Jail, where he served approximately one month of his sentence. He was subsequently released after the Kerala High Court suspended his sentence. However, the foreign travel restrictions imposed on him continued.

The former DGP has now approached the High Court seeking relaxation of the restrictions, citing his professional and financial interests in Dubai. The court is awaiting the jail superintendent's report before proceeding further with his request.