WASHINGTON, May 2 — Members of a World Bank board committee investigating the conduct of Paul D. Wolfowitz, the bank president, are leaning toward finding that he violated the institution’s rules against conflicts of interest when he arranged a pay raise and promotion for his companion, bank officials said Wednesday.

A conclusion that Mr. Wolfowitz broke the bank rules and the terms of his own contract, which bars conflicts of interest, would be likely to increase the pressure on him to resign despite his vow not to do so in the face of such charges. But it was unclear how harsh the committee’s judgment would be or what penalty would be recommended to the 24-member board of directors that will decide his fate.

“They have had long meetings late into the night and today to ensure that they are following due process,” said a bank official briefed on the committee’s discussions, noting that its work was occurring in secret in a highly charged atmosphere throughout the bank. “There is heavy drafting and redrafting going on.”

At issue is a raise, promotion and promise of future raises that Mr. Wolfowitz arranged in 2005 for Shaha Ali Riza, his companion and a bank employee. Mr. Wolfowitz said that he did so at the behest of top bank officials and that they cleared his actions. Three of the officials who Mr. Wolfowitz says approved the arrangements for Ms. Riza are disputing that contention.