In an interaction with the media on Tuesday on the sidelines of a government function, Chavan replied to several questions on the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on Tuesday that it was Chavan who had forwarded him a note during his earlier tenure as minister of state (MoS) in the prime minister' office (PMO) in which he did not mention the corruption charges against Thomas. Chavan said that he was not aware of what the prime minister said in the Rajya Sabha and that he was only hearing this from the media.

The prime minister, speaking on the CVC appointment mess, told the Rajya Sabha that he didn't know details of Thomas but that he was accountable. But Singh put Chavan in the dock stating that the note was prepared by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) under the guidance of Chavan and the note put up to him did not contain information about the case against Thomas.

"Yes, I accept that the prime minister cannot scrutinize each and every file himself. However, I as the MoS had followed all the required procedures while suggesting the names of candidates shortlisted for the CVC post. All due procedure was followed while suggesting the names of officers for the post of CVC, which included the names of two retired and one serving officer. All said and done, the granting vigilance clearance for the candidates is the responsibility of the respective state governments. The country's highest court — the Supreme Court of India — has given its judgment in the matter and we need to honor it," Chavan added.