New Delhi: Controversial Central Vigilance
Commissioner P J Thomas may step down ahead of the Supreme
Court hearing on Monday when it is slated to take up a Public
Interest Litigation against his appointment.
Though Thomas has been maintaining that there was no
corruption charge against him and his conscience was clear,
highly placed sources said that he may put in his papers to
avoid embarrassment to the government when the issue figures
in the apex court.
"I am morally clear. My conscience is very clear. I am
continuing as CVC," he told reporters today dismissing as
"speculative" questions on his possible resignation.
Thomas` name figures in a chargesheet related to the
alleged scam of importing Palmolein in Kerala in 1991 and the
Supreme Court questioned how he would function in as CVC in
view of a pending criminal case against him.
60-year-old Thomas, who was Telecom Secretary till
recently, was appointed to the CVC`s post by a three-member
panel headed by Prime Minister but not before the Leader of
the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj gave a
dissenting note.
Appointed less than three months ago, his name figures
in the chargesheet relating to import of palmolein when he
was serving in the Kerala government.
The Supreme Court had raised questions on Thomas`
ability to supervise the CBI investigations in the 2G case. It
would be difficult for Thomas to objectively monitor the
investigations, it had said. Following this Thomas yesterday
offered to recuse himself from supervising the probe.
Meanwhile, Thomas got the support of Kerala IAS officers
today when their Association expressed concern over the "smear
campaign" against him. He was a man of "impeccable integrity",
the Association said.
PTI
