Kalmadi refutes money transfer charges to UK
July 31: The days remaining for the 2010 Commonwealth Games are winding down and it is already time to begin the blame game, which was kicked off by Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi. A day after news emerged of alleged illegal money transfers from the OC to a little-known UK-based company — AM Films — Kalmadi dismissed all the charges as “totally unfounded and baseless”. The OC chairman made it clear that all expenditure in regard to the Queen’s Baton Relay in London was approved by the OC Executive Board, although his explanation left a lot of unanswered questions.
“We have nothing to hide. There is total transparency in the OC and our conscience is clear.
“All the headlines about a money trail story are false. Every penny is accounted for. We had allotted Rs 13 crore for the QBR in London, we ended up spending only Rs 6 crore,” Kalmadi told the media here on Saturday.
“M/s AM Cars and Vans — a company empanelled by the High Commission of India in London — was appointed for all the transportation requirement on the rates approved by the High Commission.
“On October 23, 2009, during a meeting chaired by Tim Owen, Westminster City Council and attended by the officials of Metropolitan Police, London Traffic Control Centre, London Fire Brigade, Ambulances Services and authorities of the Buckingham Palace, we were told that additional items like mobile video screens, portable toilets, ambulances, barricades etc had to be placed at the launch site without which the authorities would not allow to hold the programme.
“The OC agreed to arrange all the items and video screens which were procured from AM Films Ltd at the cost of £146,868.80. AM Cars & Vans offered to help out through its sister concern, AM Films Ltd,” he added.
However, Kalmadi added that no approval sought for the additional expenditure since it was done at the last minute. According to the reports, the UK government has stated that apart from £247,469, a figure of £25,000 was being transferred every month into the account of AM Films. The OC chairman refuted this claim.
“There are two sides of the story. The whole thing has come out because of the VAT refund we have asked from the company. They (the British authorities) might have gone to the office of the company but if there is something wrong there, I am not responsible for it. If we were wrong, why would we ask for VAT refund,” he said.
‘NO RESPONSIBILITY’
The OC was also quick to wash their hands of the adverse Central Vigilance Commission report pointing at shoddy construction work at the various Games venues.
“The CVC report doesn’t point fingers at the OC. We are only responsible for organising the Games. If there are problems with the construction work, the proper authorities should be investigated,” the OC chairman said.
On concerns about poor contruction leading to injuries to athletes, Kalmadi said, “We’ll not take charge of any venue till we are satisfied that all problems have been rectified.
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