New Delhi: The Supreme Court passed a stay order against the High Court verdict quashing the Dredger scam case against former DGP Jacob Thomas. The SC also instructed that the vigilance investigation against the case be completed and a report submitted within two months. However, the court has given Thomas immunity from arrest. 

The vigilance case was based on the complaint that there was corruption involved in the purchase of a dredger from a Holland company when Thomas was serving as the Director of the Port Authority. 

This case was quashed by the HC stating that the purchase was made on the basis of a collective decision by the Department Purchase Committee which included three government representatives. Therefore, as per the HC verdict, the case solely in the name of Thomas would not stand.

The SC bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Sanjay Karol clarified that they cannot agree with the HC’s verdict that quashed the case without a thorough investigation. The SC directed Jacob Thomas to cooperate with the investigation and clarified that the report being issued now is an interim one.

A. Karthik, the lawyer who represented Thomas in court alleged that the investigation would be used to torture his client. However, the SC stated that the court would look into the matter after receiving the investigation report and then take necessary action. 

The decision to purchase the dredger was taken by over 40 people from nine different government departments. This includes ministers and other officials. However, the case named only Jacob Thomas as the accused argued Thomas' lawyer. In response, the SC stated that the instruction is to investigate the involvement of others in this case.