Tom JoseKochi: The Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau in Kerala has extended probe into a disproportionate assets case against senior IAS officer Tom Jose to his friend, an expatriate woman.
The vigilance is probing the whereabouts of Dr. Anitha Jose, who hails from Pala in Kottayam district. Tom Jose had earlier said that Anitha lent him huge amounts of money on various occasions.
The vigilance has found that Anitha's house at Ramapuram was remaining vacant for years. Though the caretaker let the vigilance sleuths examine the house, he said he was not much aware of the owners.
There were apprehensions about Tom Jose's income sources after he repaid a bank loan of Rs 1.23 crore within a year with interest. The bank loan was used to purchase land in Sindhudurg in Maharashtra in 2010. When chief secretary sought a report from him about how he could raise the money, Tom Jose replied that he was helped by Anitha.
The vigilance also found that Anitha was involved in the financial deals to purchase a flat at Jawahar Nagar in Kochi in 2011. The flat is registered in the name of Tom Jose's wife Soja and Anitha.
Vigilance sleuths on Friday conducted searches at the residence and office of Tom Jose in connection with the case.
The official denied any wrong doing and described it as "deliberate" attempt to tarnish his image.
