2G scam: CVC PJ Thomas to step down?

NEW DELHI: Chief Vigilance Commissioner ( CVC) P J Thomas, the former Secretary of the department of telecommunications, is likely to step down on Tuesday days after the Supreme Court questioned his track record in the wake of investigations into the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Sources told Times Now that the efforts are on in the government to make him resign to save the government any more embarrassment over the issue.

Thomas, whose appointment has been questioned by Supreme Court, met home minister P Chidambaram on Monday.

The former secretary in the telecom ministry, which is at the centre of the 2G spectrum storm, was appointed CVC on September 7 by a three-member panel consisting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the home minister and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. The BJP leader is said to have opposed the appointment.

The name of Thomas figures in the chargesheet filed in a palmoleine export case.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court's strong observations that a chargesheeted official doesn't qualify as an outstanding civil servant.

Thomas's role at the DoT has come under heavy criticism for a variety of reasons.