New Delhi, January 11: The Supreme Court today cleared the
decks for the trial of Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) P
J Thomas in the Rs 2.8 crore Palmolein oil scam.
A bench comprising Justices Aftab Alam and R M Lodha
ruled that the appeal filed by former Kerala Chief Minister
K Karunakaran stands abated with his death.
P J Thomas and five other accused in the case will now
have to face the trial. The interim stay granted by the
Supreme Court against the trial court proceedings in
Kerala also stands vacated.
Mr Thomas, the Kerala Food Secretary when the scam took
place, is facing allegations of criminal conspiracy in causing
the loss of Rs 2.8 crore to the state exchequer.
The petitions challenging the appointment of Mr Thomas as
CVC are already pending in the Supreme Court.
The apex court has already raised questions about his
appointment.