CWG scam: CBI questions Kalmadi

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today interrogated Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chief Suresh Kalmadi for over eight hours in connection with alleged financial irregularities in conducting the sports event, held in October last year.

According to CBI officials, Kalmadi named some officials in the Delhi government and the sports ministry who were involved in the decision-making process during the Games.

Kalmadi, accompanied by his lawyer, arrived at the CBI headquarters here at 10 am today with some documents, which gave an account of the money spent by OC. The OC chief left the premises at around 6.45 pm, without speaking to the media.

Kalmadi was quizzed on alleged irregularities in the Queens Baton Relay held in London last year, besides certain contracts awarded to various firms for large sums of money in organising the Games.

The OC chairman is likely to be summoned again by CBI for further questioning.

Last week, the investigating agency had quizzed his close aides — OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and Manoj Bhure, his personal secretary.

CBI had raided Kalmadi’s house in Delhi and Pune on December 24 and found allegedly incriminating documents, hard drives and also an extortion letter, being investigated by the agency.

The agency has so far filed three First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the conduct of the Games. While one case is related to a Rs 107-crore deal struck with a Swiss score-keeping firm, CBI had registered two other FIRs in connection with the contract given to AM Films for the Baton Relay ceremonies by the OC in London.

CBI had also conducted raids at the premises of R K Sacheti, who is joint director general of OC, and Sangeeta Welingkar, member of the Games Image and Look Group.