The Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games led by sacked Chairman Suresh Kalmadi allegedly ran the entire affairs as their own fiefdom doling out contracts and other favours to people of their own choices. The probe by the Central investigating agencies has revealed that as many as “503” contracts were awarded to the firms, which did not necessarily have the requisite experience wherewithall to handle the tasks entrusted to them.
The probe has also brought out the fact that there was a “deliberate” delay of one to two years in awarding the contracts (503) with “malafide” intention to extend financial gains to the firms chosen “subjectively” by the OC members. It has also come to light that those officials who were favourites of the OC top brass were “informally” allocated certain works.
The Central agencies 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.
Sources in the Central agencies said, “The probe by the CBI and CAG has found that contracts related to sports equipment, overlays, catering, sponsorship and technology, which could have been signed in 2007 or 2008, were signed only between January 2010 and October 2010 by the OC. The probe has squarely blamed Suresh Kalmadi for the deliberate delays in awarding 503 contracts”.
“Majority of the contracts related to overlays, technology, catering and equipment had been awarded at the last minute on the grounds of dealing with a crisis situation. But these situations were created purposely. The agency is likely to make major arrests in this connection,” sources said. Besides, contracts were awarded “subjectively” not objectively by the OC members, sources alleged.
The probe has revealed that the tender bid of certain private companies were not even opened before finalising the contracts related to appointment of the technical consultant for the Games. The London-based firm was appointed as technical consultant for the Games at `29 crores, sour-ces said adding probe has revealed that it was given undue favours by the top OC members. The CAG and the Shunglu Committee are expected to highlight such irregularities in their final reports, which are likely to be prepared by March-end.