CWG body forms panel to probe corruption

Congress distances itself from OC chief Suresh Kalmadi.

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) today formed a three-member panel to probe the revelation that an e-mail made public by CGOC chairman Suresh Kalmadi to justify payments to a UK-based company was “doctored”.

“Organising Committee Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 Chairman Suresh Kalmadi has set up the panel which includes Jarnail Singh, the OC Chief Executive Officer, G C Chaturvedi, the special director general-finance, and Gurjyot Kaur, chief vigilance officer,” OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot told reporters here.

“The Committee will look into the issue of money being paid to A M Films and the Ministry of External Affairs’ contention about the letters issued by the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom,” he said.

The developments came after Kalmadi met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and was confronted with the genuine e-mail from the High Commission which did not mention the name of the firm, A M Films, which had been given a sum of over £450,000 (over Rs 3 crore) for providing services during the Queen’s Baton Relay in London.

Sources said the e-mail, which was examined by the Ministry of External Affairs for its veracity, could have been “doctored”.

A M Films was reportedly given the money without following any proper tendering procedure and paper work. According to Kalmadi, the firm was recommended by the High Commission and he had cited an e-mail by a clerk-level official of the mission in support of his claim.

However, the High Commission has denied recommending any company to OC and has also maintained that the official, Raju Sebastian, was not authorised to do so.

Meanwhile, the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in preparations for the coming event — to be held between October 3 and 14 — may spell trouble for Kalmadi as the Congress today distanced itself from the CGOC chief, who also represents the party in the Lok Sabha.

“Suresh Kalmadi is there not as a Congress representative but as the chairman of the Indian Olympic Association... serious charges have been levelled against the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee....As a chairman of the committee, he will reply to them,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmad said today.

By contrast, Ahmad said the integrity of two Union ministers Jaipal Reddy and M S Gill, who are looking after the Games-related works, is “beyond any doubt”, while Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit “is also of impeccable integrity”.

Asked about the allegations of materials being purchased for the Games at exorbitant rates, the Congress spokesperson said, “Of course, the price mentioned by you makes it seem unrealistic, but it is for the Organising Committee to explain these things.”