Thomas as CVC: Lyngdoh moves SC

The CBI is one of the multiple agencies currently investigating the role of Telecom Minister A Raja and several high-ranking ministry officials in the Rs 70,000-crore 2G Spectrum allocation scam. Status reports by the CBI in the apex court describe the probe as complicated and done at a pan-India level.

The petition also names,besides Lyngdoh,Julio F Ribeiro,ex-DGP,Punjab; B R Lall,former joint director,CBI; Air Chief Marshal retd S Krishnaswamy; S P Tallukdar,former member of the National Security Advisory Board; Javid A Chawdhury,former secretary; Professor S K Dube,former IIT director and scientist Prof S K Joshi.

The petition,filed on October 6,alleged that the dissenting opinion of the Leader of Opposition was cast to the winds to make Thomas CVC against the principle of consensus laid down by the SC. It sought the courts urgent intervention to prevent the institution of the CVC from degenerating into a farce.

It also mentioned that Thomas was chargesheeted in the palmolein export scam when he was Keralas Food and Civil Supplies secretary .

On the 2G scam,the petition said Thomas as telecom secretary has been involved in the cover-up of the 2G scam which is widely regarded as Indias biggest corruption scandal having cost the exchequer Rs 70,000 crore.