The CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in overlays contracts, related to the Commonwealth Games, has indicated that those who won the bids may have paid at least 2.5 per cent of the total contract amount of `640 crores as bribe to some of the OC officials. The agency has begun looking into this aspect after one of the arrested OC officials has reportedly turned a witness in the case.
According to sources, the agency is recording the statement of the official who has turned witness. The agency is also all set to call sacked OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi next week for questioning in connection with the irregularities in Games related contracts. The CBI officials also searched a bank locker of Mr Kalmadi in Delhi on Friday, but they did not recover anything as it was empty. The last operation pertaining to the locker was carried out on October 18, 2010. The agency may make significant arrests in CWG cases over the next couple of days. Sources said that the agency was probing the allegations that certain overlays contractors had agreed to allegedly pay a bribe of `2.5 crores of the total estimated cost of the contracts coming their way. There are allegations that a former official of the OC was allegedly paid `30 lakh by the contractors in lieu of helping the latter win the bid. Even as the agency is recording the statement of the official, who has turned approver, it is reliably learnt that the probe has so far revealed that there indeed was an agreement between the overlays contractors and the accused official regarding payment of bribe after completion of the Games, sources said.
Sources further said, “Former OC chairman Kalmadi will also be questioned by the CBI in this regard”. Another OC official, who was earlier arrested by the CBI, had also disclosed during his interrogation that four firms of overlays had reportedly agreed to pay 2.5 pre cent of total estimated cost as bribe to certain OC officials, sources added.
The agency is also expected to register an FIR in connection with irregularities committed in contract related to catering.