Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas has dragged Dr Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into the controversy surrounding the Palmolein import case. In his latest affidavit, Thomas states the PM knew about his pending Palmolein import case since 2008 and the Kerala government's request to withdraw sanction of prosecution.
In the affidavit filed on Tuesday, Thomas quoted the Central Vigilance Commission report of October 6, 2008 clearing him and seven other Indian Administrative Service officers for empanelment as secretaries to the Government of India and also the detailed note of the department of personnel dated October 17, 2008 on the vigilance status based on the CVC report. The CVC had cleared the names submitted by the government except that of Parminder Singh against whom a sanction was granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation for his prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Thomas quotes the department's note to point out that there were some charges against each officer but they were cleared by the CVC for appointment as secretaries. "The PM has ordered that in view of the fact that there are no disciplinary proceedings in the Palmolein case, the request of the state government regarding withdrawal of request for sanction of prosecution