Lift stay on palm oil case: Kerala to SC

NEW DELHI: In a possible setback to Central Vigilance Commissioner PJ Thomas, the Kerala government has asked the Supreme Court to lift the stay on the palmolein case. Thomas is one of the accused in the case.

The Kerala government, in a affidavit filed on Thursday, told the court that the hearing has been postponed 24 times because of the stay order. According to the final report filed by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in the graft case, Thomas had forwarded the proposal for import of the edible oil to secretary, government of India, by a telex message on November 18, 1991.

The decision to purchase palmolein was taken nine days later, on November 27, 1991.

"By doing so, he willfully suppressed illegalities and inherent defects of the agreement...He was well aware of the irregularities in the mode of price fixation," the report had said. The timing of the Kerala government's new affidavit in the apex court is significant as the apex court is hearing a petition challenging the suitability of Thomas to hold the CVC's post. The case will come up for the final hearing on January 27.