CVC Thomas refuses to comment on SC notice

Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas on Thursday refused to comment on the Supreme Court notice asking him to explain why his appointment should not be quahed.

Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas on Thursday refused to comment on the Supreme Court notice asking him to explain why his appointment should not be quahed.

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"I cannot talk about the issue. The matter is sub-judice, and before the court," Thomas told reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Thomas as to why his appointment as CVC should not be quashed. The court will hear the case Jan 27, 2011.

Thomas, who was the telecom secretary before he was appointed the CVC, has recused himself from the ongoing probe into the allocation of 2G spectrum that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India says caused a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 crore to the exchequer. The scam also cost then telecom minister Andimuthu Raja his job.

The opposition has been demanding Thomas' resignation since he has been charg sheeted in a palm oil import scam when he was Kerala's civil supplies secretary.