Probe by the Central agencies has revealed mismanagement of a total of `450 crores allegedly by the members of the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in conduct of the mega sporting event. The OC, headed by Suresh Kalmadi, was granted a total of `1,813 crores by the Central government for the smooth conduct of the Games.
The Central agencies, which are probing alleged irregularities in contracts related to the CWG include — CBI, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the high level Shunglu Committee appointed by the Prime Minister. According to sources, probe by the agencies has revealed complete mismanagement in financial affairs by the OC members. The mismanagement include revenue losses as well as inflated expenditure, sources added.
The OC was supposed to collect an estimated amount of `100 crores from the sale of tickets itself. However, the probe has found that the OC managed to collect only `39 crores from ticket sale, sources said, adding that there is a loss of `61 crores which has been caused by mismanagement of the OC members. The agencies are also probing the role of OC top brass in issuing complementary tickets, priced at `50,000 each.
It has come to light that those issued the `50,000 ticket for the opening ceremony were also served with “fine quality snacks”. This alone has cost the OC an additional `3 crore, over and above the initial estimates. No specific criteria was followed for issuing the `50,000 tickets, probe has revealed.
In contracts related to overlays, worth `650 crores, the probe has revealed that the OC members have shown an inflated expenditure to the tune of `225 crore. The CBI has already registered a case in this connection and booked Mr V.K. Verma, director general of the OC. The CBI is likely to make some significant arrests in this regard in a day or two, sources added.
The agency is also expected to quiz Kalmadi once again on Monday.
Sources further said, “In the controversial contract for the time, score and result (TSR) system, awarded to Switzerland-based Swiss Timing, the OC had to incur a loss of `25 crores. Same is the case with contract related to catering for the Games Village. Due to faulty procedure allegedly adopted by the OC members while awarding contract for the village catering, there is a loss of almost `21 crores.” The OC members had to pay an additional `10 crore for the contracts related to Games Management System due to irregularities in awarding the contract, sources said. The OC could only generate revenue of `430 crore, sources added.
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14-day judicial custody for Binu
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Jan. 22: A court remanded Binu Nanu, director of an event management, which was allegedly involved in irregularities related to overlays contracts in connection with the Games worth `600 crores, to 14-day judicial custody. Special CBI judge O.P. Saini remanded Binu to judicial custody till February 4.