The CBI is all set to register a fresh FIR in connection with alleged irregularities committed in awarding contract (worth `71.8 crores) related to the appointment of Switzerland-based Event Knowledge and Services (EKS) as technical consultant for the Commonwealth Games (CWG). Former officials of the Organising Committee (OC) of the CWG allegedly awarded contract to EKS without taking approval of the group of ministers (GoM) over the issue.
According to sources, the role of the former CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr Mike Hooper, in awarding contract to EKS is also being probed. The ED is also planning to register a case in this regard, sources added.
Sources further said, “After appointing as an consultant by the OC, EKS was given three contracts which included monitoring of the venue development (worth `14.58 crores), Games work force services (`22.36 crores) and Games planning project and risk management services (`29.66 crores). Probe has revealed that the first contract was awarded to EKS without any tendering process.”
The terms and negotiations for the programme management and reporting for EKS were finalised by the technical evaluation committee (TEC) of the OC on November 2, 2006, sources said, adding finally contracts were awarded to EKS on November 7, 2006. However, probe by the agency has revealed that the OC sought approval of the GoM over hiring the services of EKS on November 10, 2006, three days after awarding the contracts to EKS, sources added.
“Probe by the agency has revealed whenever meeting of the TEC was called to finalise the terms and conditions for EKS, Mr Hooper was present in all those meetings. He was not supposed to attend the meeting of the TEC as he was not a member of the committee. The CBI is probing the role of Mr Hooper in awarding contract to EKS,” sources said.