An update on Dr.Jacob Thomas I.P.S.

I had written here in February 2006, about Dr. Jacob Thomas, who happens to be one
of the very few honest and committed officers that India is fortunate to have. I have had
a few visitors reach this blog searching for "Dr Jacob Thomas I.P.S" on google. However
over time, the interest in Dr. Jacob diminished.

But the last few days have seen a resurgence in interest in him, though I had no clue why.
It became clear when I talked to my people in Kerala. Yesterday, the PDP leader Maudhani
was exonerated for a crime he was supposed to have committed and for which he had been
in jail for the past 9 years or so. I have no love lost for Maudhani or for any one who uses
religion in politics. But, is it fair to have a person put in jail for 9 long years due to political revenge on false cases ? I think not.

Anyway, what is the connection between Maudhani and Dr.Jacob ?
It seems, 9 years ago, when Dr.Jacob happened to be the police commisioner of Cochin
city, the ruling Left coalition at that time wanted him to arrest Maudhani without any
valid reason. Since Dr.Jacob was one who went by the law and because he knew that
arresting a leader who enjoyed considerable support among the Muslim community in
Kerala would lead to serious law and order problems, he refused to arrest Maudhani.

Indian politicians being what they are, they could not tolerate an officer who refused to
do their bidding. So, the same night he was removed from the post of police commisioner
and the government went ahead and had Maudhani arrested by some other pliant police
officer.

Now that the courts have ruled that Maudhani is innocent, Dr.Jacob has been proven right
in the stand he took many years ago. A newspaper in Kerala had published this and thus
the renewed interest in Dr.Jacob.

Anyway, much water has flowed down the Pampa river since my initial post on him
and his work as M.D. of SupplyCo, which prompted me to do this update on Dr.Jacob.
Another thing that prompted me to do this update was a comment on my original post
by a concerned citizen from Kerala (Mr.Viswanthan) who happens to be a college lecturer
and a long time consumer of Supplyco. I will post his comment and my reply in another post.

As I had mentioned in my initial post, Dr.Jacob put in lot of effort and time to streamline Supplyco's operations and to transform it from a government organisation rooted in
corruption to one that actually worked for the people, as it was intended to.

However, along the way, a new Government (left front again) came to power in Kerala.
We, like other people aware of Dr.Jacob's work, expected the communist government to continue giving him a free hand to carry on his good work. After all, communists are
supposed to be for the poor and the down trodden, right ?

But, nothing could be farther from this point of view. The left parties in India today are
just another political party, with most leaders out to line their pockets when they get a
chance in power. They remember the poor and downtrodden only when they need crowds
for their rallies and demonstrations.

So, within a few months of coming to power, they had Dr.Jacob removed from his post
as Managing Director of Supplyco and instead posted him as the head of Kerala State
Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), which clearly was a move to demotivate him
by assigning a competent officer a function where he would not have a chance to put in
use his skills.

When he was moved to KSFDC some months ago, all I thought was that the corrupt
elements who were dislodged from Supplyco would have pulled the strings to have him
removed so that they can get back and enjoy the fruits of corruption which Dr.Jacob had
denied them. But now that we know the Maudhani connection, I would not be surprised
if the lefties had him removed as a revenge for not arresting Maudhani when they were
in power last time.

Anyway, knowing Dr.Jacob, I am sure that he is not one to sit sulking at KSFDC.
He would instead channelise his energy to make that organisation a better one.
Our best wishes to him.

Supplyco's loss would only be KSFDC's gain.