Kerala HC suspends ex-DGP's 4-year DA sentence

The Kerala High Court has suspended the four-year jail sentence of former Director General of Police (DGP) Tomin Thachankary in a disproportionate assets case. Justice A Badharudeen passed the order on an application seeking suspension of sentence pending the disposal of Thachankary’s appeal against his conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Court heard final arguments on September 24 and reserved orders before granting interim relief. While the detailed judgment is awaited, the suspension suggests the Court found sufficient grounds to doubt the immediate enforcement of the sentence. The case involves allegations of unexplained assets disproportionate to known sources of income.

This interim relief is significant given the high-profile nature of the accused. The decision reflects judicial willingness to consider suspension of sentence in corruption cases where appeal merits are perceived as substantial. Practitioners handling similar appeals should assess prospects of suspension under Section 389 CrPC (now 393 BNSS).