New Delhi, Dec. 22: Some of the crucial documents which could throw light on the Commonwealth Games deals have gone missing. The probe agencies fear that they could have been destroyed or hidden.
Official sources said that the key files, which contain important information on tendering, budgetary allocation and contract details, are missing from the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) office.
They said the CBI officials have found sufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy by unknown OC officials in tampering with some documents and manipulating information in them.
The sources said the CBI officials have made a list of documents which are untraceable.
The revelation came during a series of searches carried out by a team of 20-30 sleuths at the OC office besides its secretary general, Mr Lalit Bhanot’s residence last month, they said.
The sources said that CBI sleuths were not getting cooperation of certain OC officials as their bosses — the OC chairman, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, and Mr Bhanot — were still at the helm of affairs.
Meanwhile, the CBI summoned Mr Kalmadi’s personal secretary, Mr P.K. Srivastava, to its headquarters for the second time on Wednesday. Sources say that Mr Srivastava was called by the CBI officials in connection with the agency’s probe related to alleged irregularities in several Games-related contracts.
Besides, the agency for the first time on Wednesday questioned the director general of the OC, Mr V.K. Verma, a close aide of Mr Kalmadi.
Some of the top brass of the OC, including Mr Kalmadi, may be asked to step down from the posts they are holding.
As far as questioning of Mr Verma is concerned, sources said, he reportedly told CBI officials that the “suspicion related to alleged irregularities in certain CWG contracts on any individual is totally baseless”. He told his interrogators that all the CWG contracts had been examined by several high-level committees, sources said. They added that Mr Verma also reportedly revealed that the whole thing was referred to the ministry concerned.
Sources further said, “Mr Verma has also revealed the names of certain top OC members who had played a crucial role in awarding the controversial contract to the Swiss company.”
Mr Verma has already been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe related to the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) held in London last year. It is believed that CBI officials also questioned him in connection with its probe into the QBR.
Mr Verma is also believed to have told the CBI officials that he was being victimised and his name was unnecessarily being dragged into the controversy.