Thachankary signed memorandum for Kairali TV and Intelsat

Thiruvanantapuram: The trade agreement for supplying transponder for the CPM owned Kairali TV and Washington based Company Intelsat was signed by the present IG of Kerla police, Tomin Thachankary. There is ample proof for this deal done by Thachankary. Through this deal the parent company, Malayalam communications had incurred a loss of rupees 23 crores. This was revealed by Malayalam Communications presently.
                   

It’s not clear how a government servant like Thachankary signed the contract for a private firm. The vigilance says that this is against the code of conduct of a high-ranking police chief and a clear case of corruption by a government servant. There was much controversy in the company Malayalam Communications on why and how someone like Thachankary made the contract with Intelsat. When in the whole world TV channels were switching to digital transmission, the Kairali channel subscribed for analog transmission technology. The contract was done for a whopping 12 crore per annum. It was in protest against such a move by Kairali TV, that the eminent media person Sasi Kumar resigned from the advisory post of Kairali channel.

The letter sent by Intelsat to Malayalam Communications itself is ample proof of the massive scam in this deal. This contract says that the transponder L-1 with a capacity of 31 megahertz of Insat – 2E will be utilised. This letter was undersigned by Intelsat Asia-Pacific Director Raju T Pulugurta. Even though the trade enquiry was sent only on 23rd march 2000, the contract was made as early as 28th march 2000. The urgency and quick manner in which the contract was signed by Thachankary generates much doubt and secrecy. In the annual report of Malayalam Communication, the loss made due its analog technology is clearly mentioned. In the report signed by the chairman Mamooti, the loss made annually is estimated at 12.4 crore  rupees and within 2 years a loss of 23 crore rupees was incurred. Sources point out that Thachankary managed to overcome the obstacle of Shashi Kumar and through  Pinarayi Vijayan managed to secure this deal.