The CBI, probing various cases in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), has registered a fresh case against a Netherlands-based company and two former officials of the Organising Committee (OC) for alleged irregularities committed in awarding the Games News Service (GNS) contract of the event.
According to sources, initial probe by the agency has revealed that accused officials of the OC paid the amount to the contractors in rupees while the contract was actually signed in dollar terms. The agency officials are now trying to find out how and why the currency for payment in connection to the contract was changed, sources added. The officials who have been named in the FIR include Lalit Bhanot, former secretary-general of the OC and a top official of the press and operations wing of the committee. The Netherlands-based company has also been named in the FIR.
“The agency officials, who registered FIR on May 7, recently conducted searches at the residential premises of certain OC officials in this regard,” sources said. The agency officials also recovered some incriminating documents during searches, which are being further scrutinised, sources added.
Sources said, “The probe has also revealed that OC officials allegedly made excess payment to the Netherlands-based company. The OC allegedly made an excess payment of $13.12 lakh to a Netherlands-based company, which was awarded the contract for GNS service of the Games.”
Documents reveal that the OC awarded the contract on June 17, 2010.