Kerala HC suspects conspiracy to shield ex-DGP Thachankary from prison
Synopsis
A retired Kerala DGP convicted for disproportionate assets reportedly spent most of his four weeks in custody in a hospital — not a prison cell — and then sought permission to work in Dubai. The Kerala High Court suspects a conspiracy and is now eyeing an inquiry into jail officials, in what could become a landmark accountability moment for the state's law enforcement hierarchy.
Key Takeaways
Kerala High Court on 12 November 2026 raised suspicion of a conspiracy to shield former DGP Tomin J.
Thachankary from jail time.
Badharudeen questioned how a person too ill to stay in prison was simultaneously seeking permission to travel to Dubai for work.
Thachankary was sentenced to four years by a trial court in September for possessing disproportionate assets, making him the first retired DGP in Kerala to be imprisoned.
He spent nearly four weeks in custody but was reportedly hospitalised for most of that period at Poojappura Central Jail .
The court refused to let him withdraw his Dubai travel petition and indicated an inquiry into the jail doctor , the prison superintendent , and other officials is likely.
A medical board examination of Thachankary has also been indicated by the court.
The Kerala High Court on Thursday, 12 November 2026, raised sharp suspicions of a conspiracy to prevent former Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary from serving time behind bars, after he was hospitalised almost immediately upon being sent to jail following his conviction in a disproportionate assets case. The court's pointed observations came as it refused to let Thachankary withdraw a petition seeking permission to travel to Dubai for employment.
What the Court Said
Justice A. Badharudeen stated plainly that the sequence of events suggested a deliberate effort to ensure the former police chief avoided a prison cell. The judge made clear he would not allow the matter to conclude without a thorough inquiry.
The court was notably unconvinced by claims that Thachankary had suffered breathing difficulties, which were cited as the reason for his hospitalisation during custody. The judge drew attention to a glaring contradiction: a person who was reportedly too ill to remain in jail had subsequently approached the court seeking permission to travel abroad for work.
'Please apply common sense. The moment he enters the jail, he goes straight to the hospital and stays there. The moment he gets bail, he comes to court seeking permission to travel abroad,' Justice Badharudeen observed.
Officials in the Dock
The court indicated that the roles of the jail doctor, the Superintendent of the Poojappura Central Jail, and other officials in the police hierarchy would need to be examined. It also indicated that Thachankary should be subjected to a medical board examination to independently assess his health claims. The court had earlier sought detailed hospitalisation records from the Poojappura Central Jail authorities.
Background: The Conviction and Sentence
Thachankary was sentenced to four years in prison by a trial court in September after being convicted in a case involving disproportionate assets. He holds the distinction of being the first retired DGP in Kerala to be sent to prison — a fact that drew considerable public and media attention to the case.
The High Court had subsequently suspended his sentence pending disposal of his appeal, but directed him not to leave the country without prior permission from the court. During his roughly four weeks in custody, Thachankary reportedly remained in hospital for much of the period, spending minimal time in an actual prison cell.
What Happens Next
The court refused to permit the withdrawal of his Dubai travel petition and adjourned the matter, formally recording that there were anomalies in the arguments advanced on his behalf. A medical board review and an inquiry into the conduct of jail officials now appear likely, with the court signalling it intends to scrutinise the circumstances of the hospitalisation closely. This case is being closely watched as a test of whether the criminal justice system applies equally to senior officers of the law.
Point of View
And who authorised that at each step? If the inquiry the court has signalled actually proceeds, it could expose a network of institutional complicity that extends well beyond one individual. The Dubai travel request, filed so soon after bail, compounded the optics disastrously — and the court was right to flag it. The real accountability test is not just Thachankary's sentence, but whether the officials who facilitated his near-absence from prison face meaningful consequences.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Kerala High Court suspicious about Thachankary's hospitalisation?
The court suspects a deliberate effort to keep the former DGP out of an actual prison cell. Justice A. Badharudeen pointed out that Thachankary was hospitalised almost immediately after entering jail, yet subsequently sought permission to travel abroad for work — a contradiction the court found deeply unconvincing.
What was Tomin J. Thachankary convicted of?
Thachankary was convicted in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced to four years in prison by a trial court in September. He became the first retired Director General of Police in Kerala to be sent to prison.
What action is the Kerala High Court likely to take next?
The court has indicated it will examine the roles of the jail doctor, the Superintendent of Poojappura Central Jail, and other officials. It has also indicated that Thachankary should undergo a medical board examination. The matter has been adjourned with the court recording anomalies in his arguments.
Why did Thachankary approach the court regarding Dubai?
Thachankary filed a petition seeking the court's permission to travel to Dubai for employment. The High Court had earlier directed him not to leave India without its permission as a condition of the suspension of his sentence pending appeal. The court refused to allow him to withdraw this petition.
How much time did Thachankary actually spend in a prison cell?
Despite being in custody for nearly four weeks, Thachankary reportedly spent most of that period in hospital rather than in a prison cell, according to the court's observations. The High Court had sought detailed hospitalisation records from Poojappura Central Jail authorities.
