Backing Jacob Thomas, actor Sreenivasan says, corrupt people fear Vigilance Chief

Close on the heels of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying that there are determined forces that want Vigilance Chief Jacob Thomas out of his post, popular Malayalam actor Sreenivasan has come out in support of the officer.  Following raids at the houses of two IAS officers in the last two days, the officers KM Abraham and Tom Jose raised objection to the vigilance move. Read: CM Pinarayi-backed IPS officer has IAS lobby in a tizzy as he cracks down on 'corruption' In an interview to Mathrubhumi News on Friday, actor Sreenivasan said that an honest officer like Jacob Thomas is bound to attract criticism and resistance from bureaucrats.  “Some people are taken aback at seeing an officer who heads a department faithfully do his work, without being influenced by any forces. Generally, most officers are not so,” the actor said.  Saying that he has many a time met Jacob Thomas in person, Sreenivasan said that Jacob Thomas wouldn’t have spearheaded an anti-corruption movement called "Excel Kerala",which included among many others, the actor himself, if he does not believe in eliminating corruption.  “I am never going to believe the allegations against Jacob Thomas. Whatever these IAS officers are now doing is pure drama, as they fear that Jacob Thomas will bring up the corruption they did in their career,” the actor said.  He added that only people who are corrupt will feel threatened when a probe is ordered against them.  “Why should they fear if they are innocent? Why should they even raise a complaint with the CM,” he said.  Also read: IAS officer Tom Jose cries foul over Kerala vigilance disproportionate assets raid Kerala IAS officers irked as vigilance top cop acts against addl. chief secy. KM Abraham