Heat on ex-NDMC chairman as CBI plans chargesheet

The CBI has sought the government’s permission to prosecute former chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council, Parimal Rai, in connection with alleged graft in contracts for upgradation of Shivaji Stadium during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

CBI sources said the agency has completed its probe in the case and will soon file a chargesheet after getting permission to prosecute 51-year-old Rai, who is now posted as secretary in the Goa government. The agency has also named the then executive engineer and former superintendent engineer P K Gulati and R S Thakur respectively as accused in the case.

Gulati is now retired from service. The CBI had registered a case in 2012 against Rai for alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for the stadium.
Shivaji Stadium, which was to be prepared for the Commonwealth Games, could not be completed in time despite escalation in costs. The government had given sanction to the agency to go ahead with the probe against the officer last year, after which he was named in the FIR.

Now, the CBI has sought permission to prosecute the official by filing a chargesheet against him and others involved in the alleged conspiracy.

The CBI had alleged that the accused officers abused their official position and awarded contracts in the matter of upgradation and renovation of Shivaji and Talkatora stadiums at exorbitant rates. They inflated the cost to private firms, which resulted in wrongful gain to private persons and firms and corresponding loss to the NDMC, said the CBI.

A 1985-batch IAS from UT cadre, Rai headed the NDMC for four years between 2007 and 2011.