New Delhi:
A new wave has crashed into the tsunami of the 2G scam after the Supreme Court questioned how PJ Thomas can, as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), monitor the case objectively - he was the Telecom Secretary when the department allegedly took decisions that cost the government Rs. 1.76 lakh crore in what's received top billing among India's many scams.
The judges hearing the 2G case pointed out that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is investigating the 2G swindle is supervised by the Central Vigilance Commission.
"CBI is functioning under the CVC, at that time he (Thomas) was functioning as Telecom Secretary. It would be difficult for him to objectively monitor," the judges said, adding, "He had justified the actions which are being subject to scrutiny by this court and CBI. It would be difficult for him to objectively supervise."
The government and the CBI have told the court that they have no objection to the Supreme Court monitoring the CBI's investigation.
Sources say that despite the embarrassment caused to the government by the court's remarks against Thomas, he is unlikely to resign before the next hearing on Monday. The government is reportedly not pressuring him to quit.
The 2G scam centres on licenses for 2G spectrum that were given to companies in 2008 at throwaway prices that forced A Raja to resign as Telecom Minister earlier this month. Many of the companies that were given licenses were ineligible and will now be served notice for why their licenses should not be cancelled, said new Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday.
The court's direct assessment of Thomas' conflict of interest will come as a windfall for the Opposition. The BJP had vehemently opposed Thomas' appointment as the Central Vigilance Commissioner earlier this year, quoting the 2G case. Thomas is also charged with corruption in a case in Kerala related to the import of edible oil at sky-high prices from Malaysia in 1992.
The Opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the 2G scam - a request the government has refused to sanction. The government believes that the Opposition will use the JPC's authority to summon ministers and the Prime Minister, which is neither required nor appropriate in this case, according to the government.
Today, non-BJP Opposition parties met President Pratibha Patil to request her to sanction a JPC.
Parliament has been paralysed for the entire Winter Session - the Opposition says it will not allow either House to function till a JPC is granted.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar called an all-party meeting on Tuesday which failed to end the impasse.