Birthday bash lands Kerala transport commissioner in trouble

Tomin J Thachankary, a 1984-batch IPS officer, cut cakes and distributed sweets at various functions in Kochi on Wednesday, while elsewhere in the state, the department staff handed down cakes and sweets on the occasion.

With controversy brewing over the celebrations of Kerala’s transport commissioner Tomin J Thachankary’s birthday in various offices of the motor vehicles department, transport minister AK Saseendran directed the chief secretary on Thursday to look into the matter.

Tomin J Thachankary, a 1984-batch IPS officer, cut cakes and distributed sweets at various functions in Kochi on Wednesday, while elsewhere in the state, the department staff handed down cakes and sweets on the occasion. (Photo credit: Tomin J Thachankary’s Facebook page)

The minister asked chief secretary SM Vijayanand to examine if any circular had been issued by Thachankary, directing birthday celebrations in all RTO offices in the state.

Thachankary, a 1984-batch IPS officer, cut cakes and distributed sweets at various functions in Kochi on Wednesday, while elsewhere in the state, the department staff handed down cakes and sweets on the occasion.

As the issue became a talking point, Thachankary claimed he had spent money for the celebrations from his own pocket and hence there was no need to whip up any controversy.

The IPS officer has always been dogged by controversies, ranging from allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and making frequent trips abroad without seeking government’s permission.