CWG: CBI raids homes of Kalmadi aides

They said the searches started early this morning with regard to a Rs 107 crore deal struck with a firm for the results-update system for the Commonwealth Games. The searches were carried out in Gurgaon,Noida and the national capital,the sources said.

This is the third FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in CWG projects. The CBI has already registered two FIRs in connection with alleged irregularities in CWG projects and has arrested some former Games officials.

This is the first time when premises of both Bhanot and Verma,both considered close to Kalmadi,were searched.

While Verma has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate a couple of times,Bhanot was also on their radar,the sources said.

Verma claimed,”These allegations are absolutely baseless. Any suspicion on any individual is totally baseless because you should see this whole matter has been examined by so many high-level committees… several committees had examined the matter.”

“The whole thing was referred to the ministry. This whole presentation,the whole discussion took place in the executive board meeting of the CWG. So there has been complete transparency of every step taken in this case,” he said.

On November 15,two other close aides of Suresh Kalmadi T S Darbari and Sanjay Mahendroo were arrested for their alleged roles in the financial irregularities in the organisation of the Games.

A few days later,the CBI arrested sacked treasurer of the Organising Committee M Jayachandran in connection with the alleged bungling in the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) in London last year.

Darbari and Mahendroo were suspended initially after reports of the scam started appearing in the media. Both officials were sacked later.

Around the same time,the CBI registered two separate cases in the alleged irregularities in the CWG,involving UK-based A M Films and former officials of the CWG Organising Committee on charges of forgery and cheating in organising the Queen’s Baton Relay in London.

Immediately after registering the cases,the CBI carried out searches at four places in the national capital region including the office of CWG Organising Committee,agency officials said.

The searches were conducted at the residence of Darbari,Mahendroo and Raj Singh,a director-level officer in the OC,the officials said.

CBI looks to be targetting some CWG Organising Committee members but is totally silent on the role of the top man,Suresh Kalmadi,the OC chairman whose signature was crucial to the payments made.

The first case names London-based A M Car/Van Services and its owner Ashish Patel besides Darbari,Mahendroo and Singh under sections 468 (forgery of court records and public documents),471 (using forged documents as genuine),120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The second case involves London-based A M Films,Patel,Mahendroo,Darbari and others under sections 420 (cheating),120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

Darbari and Mahendroo have been remanded in judicial custody till December 8 after custodial interrogation for nine days. The court has sent M Jayachandran to police custody.

Lalit Bhanot said he cooperated with the CBI. “The CBI team came in the morning and they wanted to search the house. We were transparent. I don’t hide anything and we are giving them whatever file they are asking for,” he said.

The CWG Organising Committee Secretary General maintained that the decisions were taken jointly by the executive board of the CWG which also included government representatives.

“Whatever the decision has been taken it has been jointly taken by the Board and it includes members from government,various federations and the OC,” he said.