KOCHI — Former Kerala Director General of Police Tomin Thachankary has formally petitioned the Kerala High Court requesting a modification to his bail stipulations to allow for overseas travel, legal sources confirmed on Thursday. The application specifically targets a mandatory judicial directive prohibiting the retired senior IPS officer from departing the nation without explicit, prior authorization from the bench handling his legal matters.
The request brings renewed attention to the regulatory and legal parameters governing retired high-ranking public servants who remain entangled in judicial proceedings. Under standard judicial protocols for individuals facing active legal scrutiny, international travel restrictions are frequently imposed to ensure compliance with ongoing investigative or trial requirements, making any potential relaxation a matter of significant legal contention.
According to reports by The Hindu, Justice A. Badharudeen presided over the preliminary hearing regarding the modification plea. During the proceedings, the bench formally granted the State administration additional time to file its official objections, ensuring that prosecution authorities can thoroughly review the implications of lifting the travel ban.
The matter is expected to return to the judicial docket once the State files its counter-statement, at which point the High Court will weigh the former police chief's travel request against the necessity of ensuring unhindered legal accountability. The final ruling could set a crucial precedent for how similar travel restriction modifications are adjudicated for high-profile defendants in the region.