CWG corruption row: Kalmadi fire-fights; sets-up probe panel

ZNB
Bellevision Media Network

New Delhi, 03 August 2010: Beleaguered IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi, who is in the eye of the storm over murky dealings in the Commonwealth Games 2010, formed a 3 member squad to look into the corruption charges. The panel, headed by Commonwealth Games Organising Committee CEO Jarnail Singh, is to submit a report to Kalmadi by 5th August. The two other members of the panel are IAS GC Chaturvedi and CVC official Gurjot Singh.

 

While announcing the decision, Lalit Bhanot, Secretary General of OC confirmed that Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar, in a letter to Kalmadi, had asked for the removal of TS Darbari (OC joint Director General) and Dr Sanjay Mohindroo (OC Deputy Director General) after their names figured in the investigations into "alleged irregularities" into services provided during the Queen’s Baton Relay in London.

 

 

Darbari came under the scanner after reports emerged about his association with AM films, a little-known UK firm that was paid lakhs of pounds by the CWG Organising Committee for its "services" provided in London. Later investigations have revealed that AM Films and its sister concerns were dubious but were paid 2,50,000 pounds without any written contract. Bhanot also confirmed that Kalmadi has met External Affairs Minister SM Krishna over the UK money scam.

 

While Kalmadi claimed publicly that the protocol division of the Indian High Commission in London in an e-mail, had cleared AM Films – now known to be a dubious enterprise - to do business with the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, the Indian High Commission and the Ministry of External Affairs are denying giving any such sanction. Meanwhile, Kalmadi is said to have agreed to the demand of the CWF and called a meeting of the Executive Board on August 5 to look into the entire mess just days before the CWG Games.