Kalmadi questioned by CBI over QBR scam

Suresh Kalmadi was today questioned by the CBI over alleged irregularities in the conduct of Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) held in London in 2009.

The agency had asked Kalmadi, sacked as chairman of the CWG organising committee, to appear before it in order to clarify some new issues which surfaced during the visit of the agency's officials to London in connection with QBR scam.

Kalmadi had earlier expressed his inability to appear before the CBI citing his foreign visit, saying he would return home only after April 19. But even after returning from his visit abroad, he did not turn up before the agency saying he was still not in Delhi.

The CBI had gathered fresh leads after the trip of its two-member team to London in connection with cases related to alleged irregularities in hiring of AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited during QBR held in 2009 at exorbitant rates, sources in the agency said.
The team has spoken to the London-based owner of both the companies -- Ashish Patel -- who has provided information and documents with regard to the allegedly overvalued deal, the sources said.

AM Car and Van Hire company in London was engaged during QBR in 2009 to provide services like taxis for the guests and OC members. The AM films was hired to provide display monitors during the event.

The CBI team during their visit to London had also questioned other companies which were in the fray for the contract.

The agency had sent a two-member team comprising Additional Director V K Gupta and DIG S K Palsania to London to probe the payments made to the two companies allegedly with Kalmadi's tacit approval, they said.

CBI now wants Kalmadi to respond to the fresh information on the monetary transactions with the two companies.

This is the third time that Kalmadi has appeared before the investigating agency for facing questions relating to the CWG scam.