CWG probe: ED questions consortium official

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games (CWG) preparations, today questioned a senior official of one of the consortiums that bagged contracts worth Rs 150 crore for overlay works.

Official sources said Sandeep Badwah of the Comfort Net-Nussli India consortium was questioned in connection with the probe into the alleged irregularities in preparation for the sporting extravaganza held in the national capital last month.

The firm's premises were also searched by the Income Tax department during its nationwide raids last month as part of its investigations into alleged tax evasion by firms involved in the CWG preparations.

The ED, which had already registered a case in connection with the Queens Baton Relay (QBR) in London, is also probing alleged irregularities related to violation of foreign exchange norms by the firms awarded contracts for overlay works.

The ED is also likely to question other such consortiums and firms which were awarded works like providing furniture.

Summons for questioning will be sent to other consortiums who were awarded games related works, the sources said.

The ED may also look to invoke the provisions of the anti-money laundering Act in the overlays related works transactions, once it finds sufficient evidence, the sources said.

The consortiums, including foreign entities, which were searched by the I-T department were identified as PICO international and Deepali Designs, G L Litmus and Meroform consortium, Comfort Net and Nussli India consortium and ESG Arena and D-Art furniture and were estimated to have bagged contracts worth about Rs 800 crore.