CWG Queen's Baton Relay: Court orders framing of charges

A court here on Thursday ordered framing of charges against then officials of the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) organising committee, including T.S. Darbari, in graft cases related to the Queen's Baton Relay ceremony in London, ahead of the games in Delhi.

Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge Ajay Kumar Jain found prima facie evidence against Darbari and five others and ordered framing of various charges dealing with cheating, forgery and under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court set February 23 for formally framing charges against the accused.

Then CWG organising committee joint director general Darbari, deputy director general Sanjay Mahendroo, treasurer M. Jaychandran, London-based Ashish Patel and his two private firms, AM Car & Van Hire and AM Films were chargesheeted by the CBI.

In the chargesheet, the CBI stated that "in order to justify the allotment of the work to Ashish Patel's company, the accused officials prepared various forged documents."

The probe agency said the officials did not follow the standard tendering process and instead favoured Patel's company.

All the accused are at present out on bail.

"The accused officials prepared fake notes on the proceedings and placed forged e-mails in support of the proposal for engagement of the London-based transport firm," the chargesheet said.

It said they "acted dishonestly and fraudulently" to justify allotment of work related to first aid, additional barriers, mobile temporary toilets, and power generation to the firm at exorbitant rates.