CVC PJ Thomas being pressurized to quit: Reports

New Delhi, Nov 30 (IBNS) Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) PJ Thomas is reportedly being pressurized to quit after his appointment drew criticism from the country?s highest court when the Supreme Court questioned how a ?criminal case accused? can function as among the nation?s top officer.

After former Telecom minister A Raja, Thomas could be the next high profile victim of the 2G Spectrum scam.

Thomas is a former Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and his role during the one-year tenure, which ended in September following his appointment as the CVC, had drawn criticism.

Sources said that the government was persuading Thomas to quit voluntarily and he could resign as early as later on Tuesday.

The CVC is reported to have met Union Home minister P Chidambaram, who was part of the three-member committee that selected Thomas.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj (BJP) had rejected his appointment.

The other member in the panel was the Prime Minister.

The Supreme Court had earlier expressed its concerns over the appointment of ?criminal case -accused? Thomas as the CVC.

“We are concerned that if a person is an accused in a criminal case how will he function as CVC?” the apex court had said.

The former Telecom secretary has been accused of involvement in the case where the Kerala government imported 15,000 tonnes of edible oil from Malaysia in 1992 at exorbitant rates.