CWG scam: CBI to make significant arrests soon

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The CBI, which is probing several cases of corruption in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), is likely to make significant arrests in connection with the alleged irregularities committed in awarding broadcast contract (worth Rs 246 crores) for the games to the UK-based SIS Live by Prasar Bharti very soon.

The CBI has already filed a case against suspended chief executive officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharti B.S. Lalli and chairman and managing director of Delhi-based Zoom Communications Wasim Ahmad Dehlvi in this regard.

According to sources the agency is expected to make major arrests in this regard in a day or two.

Sources said, “The agency has filed a case against Lalli and Dehlvi, who is also the resident director of UK-based SIS Live, under section 120-B and 420 of Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy and fraud respectively. The duo have been charged under certain sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act also”.

“There are allegations that the former CEO of Prasar Bharti had extended undue favour to the UK-based company in the award and execution of the contract despite objections from various quarters within Prasar Bharti,” sources said. Besides, certain conditions were also relaxed in favour of the United Kingdom-based company.

A major portion of Rs 246 crore contract given to SIS Live by Prasar Bharti for ‘production and coverage’ of Commonwealth games was sub-contracted to Zoom Communications for only Rs 176 crore resulting in loss of nearly Rs 100 crores to the exchequer, sources said.