New Kerala vigilance chief for 'creative vigilance' system

Senior IPS officer Jacob Thomas, who took charge as Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) today, said his objective would be to introduce a 'creative vigilance' system in the state. A flawless vigilance system was what the state wanted and the activities of all government departments would be monitored, he said.
"A creative vigilance system is the main objective. There are many factors under the concept. There will be no more foul play in the vigilance system," Thomas told reporters after assuming charge.
He said people face various kinds of corruption in their day-to-day life and all such malpractices should be stopped.

Thomas' appointment as the vigilance chief assumes significance as he had sour relations with the previous Congress-led UDF government and had openly criticised it on several occasions.
During the Ommen Chandy government, the officer was shifted to the Fire and Rescue Department after he reportedly took a strong stand in the vigilance case against Kerala Congress-M leader K M Mani in the bar bribery case following which he was forced to resign as Finance Minister.
Thomas had also been shifted later to the Kerala Police Housing and Construction Corporation as its managing director.