CWG scam: CBI may register case for destruction of evidence

The CBI is looking at the possibility of registering a case for destruction of evidence as part of its probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games.

Official sources said some of the crucial documents which could throw light on the Commonwealth Games deals have gone missing. The probe agencies fear that they could have been destroyed or hidden.

Asked if the CBI is likely to register a case under Section 201 of IPC (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), sources said investigations are on and the likelihood cannot be ruled out.

"CBI is looking at various angles. Nothing cannot be ruled out as of now," a source said.

Sources said that the key files, which contain important information on tendering, budgetary allocation and contract details, are missing from the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) office.

They said the CBI officials have found sufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy by unknown OC officials in tampering with documents and manipulating information in them.

The sources said that CBI sleuths were not getting cooperation of certain OC officials as their bosses — the OC chairman, Suresh Kalmadi and secretary general Lalit Bhanot — were still at the helm of affairs.

Incidentally, a day before CBI raided his office and residence, Kalmadi sent out a circular asking all functional heads under him to start winding up, a move which is against the Sports Ministry's directive to stay put.

Kalmadi, the sources said, had send out the circular on December 23 also asking these officials to submit all documents to the record room.

The CBI on December 24 had carried out searches at the residential premises of Kalmadi in the national capital and in Pune in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games. Besides him, the premises of his personal secretary Manoj Bhure in Pune were also searched by the probe agency.