PJ Thomas may resign today from CVC

Central vigilance commissioner P J Thomas is set to resign on Saturday. Sources said the government has already moved to find his substitute and consultations will soon, as required under the law, happen with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. Sources stressed that the government, with its hand singed by the furore over Thomas’s appointment, is not going to rush into a decision this time. CVC can be tried without permission after he quits. Central vigilance commissioner P J Thomas had looked set to quit on Monday, but held on because of the fear that his resignation would leave him without cover from possible prosecution in the palmolein import case. Thomas is among those chargesheeted in the case but cannot be tried till government gives the prosecution agency the required sanction. The government appreciates his concern but feels helpless because of the gathering political storm over the 2G spectrum scam and the Opposition’s allegation that the CVC was not fit to do an honest job of overseeing the CBI investigation into it.