The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has recommended action against former Chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi for “suppression of facts” in a case of alleged corruption and nepotism probed by it.
The probity watchdog has conducted a direct inquiry on the basis of complaints of corruption and nepotism in the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. The probe report was referred to the CBI for detailed investigation.
“The CBI report (was) received and after examination, the Commission decided to close the matter. However, the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) is advised to take action as deemed fit in the matter of suppression of facts by Kalmadi and furnish action taken report to the Commission,” the CVC said in response to an RTI query.
The ‘action-taken’ report from the CVO, who acts as a distant arm of the Commission, was awaited, the reply said.
The CVC has also recommended registration of a disproportionate assets case against one of Kalmadi’s aides R. K. Sacheti, who worked as a Joint Director General in the Games organising body.
The Commission has received a complaint of alleged irregularity in appointments in the OC without proper education or professional qualification. The complaint also alleged that Sacheti was a “backdoor entry“.
The CVC has called for a factual report from the CVO of the Ministry of Youth Affairs. The Commission expressed dissatisfaction over the CVO report and noticed “that a few CBI officers” were also alleged to be involved in the case.
“The matter was handed over to CBI to register a case of disproportionate assets against R K Sacheti,” the anti-corruption watchdog said, adding that a report in this regard was awaited from the CBI.
The Organising Committee was mired in allegation of corruption in execution of projects related to the mega sporting extravaganza conducted by it between October 3-14, 2010, in New Delhi.
Taking note of allegations of large scale corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed a High Level Committee under the chairmanship of former Comptroller and Auditor General V.K. Shunglu to look into them.
The HLC had in its six reports submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office pointed out various financial and managerial irregularities in the execution of CWG-related projects. The reports are being examined by a Group of Ministers being headed by Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
The CVC is awaiting response from over a dozen government departments, some for over three years, on the complaints of alleged corruption sent to them for probe.
A complaint regarding an alleged scam in the purchase of 34 different medical items for CWG by Directorate of Health Services, Government of National Capital territory of Delhi (GNCTD) was received. It was alleged that the items were purchased from different sellers at highly inflated prices.
“An investigation report has been called from GNCTD on October 8, 2010 and is still awaited,” the Commission said.
Another complaint regarding alleged irregularities in the construction of bus shelters for Commonwealth Games by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Ltd. was received. The irregularities were claimed to be to the tune of Rs. 365 crore.
A report was received from the GNCTD. “Further clarifications were sought from GNCTD on February 29, 2012,” it said in reply to the RTI query.
The OC is also contesting two dozen legal cases involving revenue of about Rs. 350 crore against private companies which executed projects related to the mega-sporting event.
At least 37 government departments have spent over Rs. 13,000 crore in 9,000 publicly-funded CWG—related projects.
