ED, CBI fear destruction of proof, to seize assets

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Polling personnel mark the fingers of voters with indelible ink after they cast their votes at a booth in Kishanganj, Bihar,

Apprehending the possibility of destruction of evidence that may be resorted to by those facing the probe heat in connection with the Commonwealth Games, the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI are likely to take the possession of some properties and also certain crucial software, which supposedly contain critical information.
According to sources, probe officials may take possession of certain computers, laptops and hard disks related to the investigation of the case. Also the probe officials are likely to seal certain portions of the office of the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games and also offices of a few private contractors for investigation purposes, sources added.
“Possibility of the destruction of evidence by those who are under the scanner, cannot be ruled out. Officials of both the probe agencies, ED and CBI, are also in touch with each other in this regard. Besides, the officials are also in touch with income tax department who recently conducted searches at several places in connection with its probe related to the CWG”, sources said.
Sources added, “The probe agencies are concentrating only on those projects in connection with which large scale irregularities have been alleged. These include augmentation of DTC fleet (`1,800 crores), construction of bus depots in Delhi (`900 crores), street lighting (`650 crores) and street scaping (`525 crores)”. Officials of the probe agencies are also planning to question contractors involved in these projects, sources added.
Officials are also collecting documents related to the overall expenditure of the OC during the Games which was `1,620 crores. “On March 15, 2007, the Union Cabinet had approved an amount of `767 crores as loan at the government rate of interest to the OC. But in what circumstances OC sought an increase in the overall budget from `767 crores to `1,620 crores, needs to be probed properly,” sources said.