Cong allies demand CVC's ouster, Thomas defiant

Amid growing opposition against Chief Vigilance Commissioner PJ Thomas over corruption charges, Thomas today refused the demand to step down and said, "My conscience is very clear. I am continuing as CVC."

Amid growing opposition against Chief Vigilance Commissioner PJ Thomas over corruption charges, Thomas today refused the demand to step down and said, "My conscience is very clear. I am continuing as CVC."

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Significantly, in the midst of speculation that he would resign, Thomas told reporters today that he was appointed by the government as CVC and he was continuing in the post.

"I am very impartial and take judicious decisions as per the law on every matter that comes to me," said Thomas.

"The Palmoleine import case is a very old case. It did not happen in my tenure. I am not really aware of its status. The state government has a very funny stand on it," said Thomas.

Even Congress allies Trinamool Congress and the NCP have joined the chorus demanding the ouster of Thomas from the the post of CVC.

Government counsel told the Supreme Court yesterday that Thomas would recuse from supervising CBI probe into the 2G scam.

Sources said that while Thomas is continuing as CVC, behind-the-scene efforts are on to persuade him to resign.

The government apparently does not want any further embarrassment in the Supreme Court which had questioned Thomas' capacity to supervise the functioning of CBI when he himself is facing a chargesheet in a corruption case in Kerala.