No grant of prosecution against PJ Thomas: P Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday defended the government?s decision to appoint controversial bureaucrat PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).

Addressing a press conference here to present his ministry?s monthly report card, Chidambaram said Thomas? appointment was cleared since there was no sanction to prosecute the CVC by any government.

He informed that the allegations against Thomas were discussed in the September 4, 2010, meeting of the selection committee which included him, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj.

?We did discuss the names in the panel. In fact, the bulk of the time (of discussion) was regarding P J Thomas and Palmolein case. She (Swaraj) made her points, the other members of the Committee made their points.

?It was brought to the notice of the Committee during the discussion that although the case was registered, no sanction of prosecution was granted by the NDA government from December 1999 to May, 2004 and by the UPA government subsequently,? the Union minister added.

To a poser on the choice of a controversial candidate, Chidambaram said, ?I respect your right to hold a point of view similarly you should also respect our point of view. The matter is actively subjudice.?

Earlier on Jan 27, the Central government had pleaded ignorance before a Supreme Court bench regarding pending corruption cases against CVC Thomas while appointing him to the post.

A SC bench, headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia, had earlier asked the government if the three-member panel, headed by the prime minister, was aware of the corruption case and prosecution sanction granted by Kerala government while appointing Thomas as the CVC.

Attorney General GE Vahanvati, appearing on behalf of the government, said that the government was not aware of these facts.

Opposition BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on the same day said she will approach the Supreme Court on the government?s contention that it was unaware of corruption charges against Thomas.

Maintaining that the government?s submission before the apex court that it did not know of the corruption slur on Thomas, Swaraj said, ?I personally brought this to the notice of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister… now I have decided to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court.?

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had challenged Thomas? appointment as the CVC pointing to an oil import case against him, though Thomas has pleaded innocence in an affidavit before the Supreme Court.

In 1991-92, Thomas, as the Food Secretary in Kerala, had allegedly allowed the import of Palmolein or edible oil from Malaysia at prices higher than the market rate.

He also allegedly covered up the 2G Spectrum allocation scam as the Telecom Secretary.