JOIN USPassport office sources told PTI that Thachankary had applied for a fresh passport on February 9 after he had exhausted the pages of his current passport. In the relevant columns relating to government service and criminal cases pending, Thachankary had replied in the negative.
The sources said on a computer search of his previous application, it was found that he was a government servant, following which a show-cause notice was issued to him for giving incorrect information.
Thachankary then produced an NOC from Additional DGP Mahesh Kumar Singala which stated the department had no objection for his application, which in effect was recommending issue of passport to Thachankary, they said.
Singala had stated that Thachankary's application does not invite provisions under Para 6 (2)F of the Passport Act (ie there is no criminal proceedings against the particular person).
The passport office authorities decided not to issue a fresh passport under 'Tatkal' to Thachankary and to refer the matter to the Kochi city police commissioner as there was 'prima facie suppression of vital information' that Thachankary was not a government servant and there were no criminal cases against him, they said.
The sources said Singala again sent a fax to the passport office this morning stating that he had only meant that there was no objection in giving additional pages or additional booklet for the present passport.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in Kerala had last week recommended to the state Home department for prosecution of Thachankary for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his income.
According to the report, submitted by Vigilance Director K P Somarajan to Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Thachankary was found to have amassed disproportionate wealth to the tune of Rs 79 lakh.
Thachankary has been under suspension for the last one year on the charge that he made a foreign trip without the consent of the government when he was Kannur IGP.
The National Investigation Agency has questioned him for his alleged association with certain people having terror links whom he had met during his Qatar visit last year.