The Kerala High Court has issued notice to former Director General of Police Tomin J Thachankary (IPS:1987:KL) on a petition alleging misuse of the official DGP insignia after his retirement.
Justice G. Girish issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by CT Muneer of Kozhikode, who challenged the order of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Thamarassery, dismissing his complaint at the pre-cognisance stage. The petitioner contended that the Magistrate had erroneously held that the complaint failed to disclose a prima facie case.
According to the petition, Thachankary continued to use the official ‘Silver Star’ DGP number plate on his private vehicle after retirement, thereby allegedly projecting himself as a serving police officer. The petitioner also referred to an incident in which Thachankary was allegedly seen using the insignia while visiting the Vigilance Court in Kottayam.
The petition further stated that complaints submitted to the local police and the Superintendent of Police, Kozhikode, did not result in the registration of a case.
The High Court has posted the matter for further hearing on July 31, 2026.
Notably, the issue had first come to light earlier this year when the Motor Vehicles Department imposed a ₹250 fine on Thachankary for displaying the official DGP insignia on his private vehicle after retirement. The action followed an inquiry by the Kottayam Enforcement RTO, which found that only serving officers are permitted to use the official insignia. Subsequently, lawyer-activist Adv. Kulathur Jaisingh sought registration of a police case, alleging that treating the matter as a traffic violation alone amounted to downplaying the seriousness of the alleged misuse of an official symbol.
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