I’m a person of high integrity: CVC

With the Centre backing him, Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas on Monday denied the corruption charges against him, claiming he was victim of political battle in Kerala between senior leaders. Bhadra Sinha reports.

With the Centre backing him, Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas on Monday denied the corruption charges against him, claiming he was victim of political battle in Kerala between senior leaders.

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In his affidavit, Thomas vowed he was a person of “high integrity.” Filed in response to a PIL challenging his appointment on the ground that he was accused in the Palmolein case, Thomas contended there was no violation of norms and that he had no role in the 2G scam.

Thomas’s appointment has been challenged by some eminent citizens including former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh. A SC bench would hear the petition and consider the government and Thomas’s affidavits on January 27.

The government in its affidavit, filed last week, claimed impeccable integrity was only a suitability criterion and, therefore, Thomas’s appointment could not be questioned.

The CVC said: “Grave injustice is done to an officer who has maintained the highest standard of integrity and has unfortunately been dragged into a controversy between two political leaders ...” According to him he has been caught in the middle of “political battle between the former and present Kerala CM — K Karunakaran and V S Achuthananadan.”

Karunakaran had challenged Kerala’s decision to cancel notification that had withdrawn the corruption case against him and government officers including Thomas. The appeal was abated after Karunakaran’s death.