New Delhi, Aug. 3: Caught in a web of corruption allegations, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee's credibility took a further beating on Monday after a revelation that an e-mail made public by Suresh Kalmadi to justify payments to a UK-based company was “doctored”, forcing it to launch a probe.
Kalmadi, the OC chairman, met external affairs minister S.M. Krishna and was confronted with the genuine e-mail from the Indian High Commission in the UK which did not mention the name of the company, AM Films, which had been given a sum of over Rs 3 crore for providing services during the Queen's Baton Relay in London.
The sources said the e-mail, which was examined by the ministry of external affairs for its veracity, could have been “doctored”.
AM Films is at the centre of the row. The little-known company was reportedly given over £4.5 lakh without following any proper tendering procedure and paper work.
According to Kalmadi, the firm was recommended by the High Commission and he had cited an e-mail by a clerk-level official of the mission in support of his claim.
However, the High Commission has denied recommending any company to the OC and has also maintained that the official, Raju Sebastian, was not authorised to do so.
Under intense pressure from the government, the Organising Committee formed a three-member panel to probe the allegations of irregular financial transactions.
“Organising Committee Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 Chairman Suresh Kalmadi has set up the panel which includes Jarnail Singh, OC Chief Executive Officer, G C Chaturvedi, Special Director General- Finance, and Gurjyot Kaur, Chief Vigilance Officer,” OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot told reporters here.
“The Committee will look into the issue of money being paid to AM Car and Van Limited and the Ministry of External Affair's contention about the letters issued by the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom,” he said.
Asked whether Krishna had told Kalmadi that the e-mails were doctored, Bhanot said, “I am not aware what they have discussed.”