Former chairman of the Organising Committee (OC), Suresh Kalmadi, is likely to be named as an accused in the CBI’s chargehseet related to the agency probe into the result update system of the Commonwealth Games. This will be the CBI’s first chargesheet, to be filed very soon, related to the agency’ probe into the CWG cases.
According to sources, the CBI probe has revealed that accused Organising Committee officials had allegedly conspired with the representatives of the private firm in Switzerland and contract for the Time, Scoring and Result (TSR) system was awarded by wrongfully restricting and eliminating competition in a planned manner. The agency is likely to file chargesheet in the TSR case by May 23, sources added. The OC officials who have been arrested by the CBI in connection with TSR case, include Kalmadi, former secretary general, Lalit Bhanot and former director general (finance) V.K. Verma.
“Probe by the agency has also revealed that the accused OC officials even ignored the advise given by international consultants, appointed by the OC, while awarding contract to Swiss Timing. Two international consultants appointed by OC had reportedly advised that Spain-based company (MSL Spain), which was also a bidder, could not be disqualified for the TSR system,” sources said. A total of two bids were received for the contract, sources added. The agency will mention this in the chargesheet also.
The CBI officials also scrutinised the video-recording of the presentation made by the accused OC official before the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in which the name of the appointed firm for the TSR system was announced almost 20 days before the last date of tender, sources said.
“The agency has recorded statements of two senior officials of the OC under Section 164 of the CrPC in connection with TSR probe. Their statements will be considered as evidence in the court of law,” sources said. Statements of the OC officials will also be part of the chargesheet, sources added. The agency will also mention statements of the officials of the Swiss Timing in its chargesheet, sources added.