Games scandal worries Centre

Kalmadi denies charges against panel

As the Centre is weighed down by a fresh scandal that engulfed the Commonwealth Games on Friday, the Prime Minister’s Office has taken a serious view of all developments surrounding the mega event and asked Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar to look into the crises.

A television channel on Friday reported irregularities in money transactions between the Games Organising Committee (OC) and a UK-based firm. The channel said the British Government had raised questions about a huge amount of money transferred by the OC to London-based AM Films. 

The Centre has also asked the Enforcement Directorate to trace the money trail that may link the OC to the dubious London-based firm.

Already, the Central Vigilance Commission has reported irregularities in several Games-related projects.

Political parties also appeared miffed at the controversies marring the Games, to be conducted from October 3 to 14 in New Delhi.

While the BJP called for a probe, the Congress said: “We are definitely worried about it (the reports of delays and irregularities). The irregularities that have happened should be probed and those guilty punished.”

The scam and delays in completion of stadiums have worried the Central and  Delhi governments about the extent of corruption in the Games.

Union Sports Minister M S Gill, who had earlier supported the OC, said: “Anything that needs to be looked at must be looked at, and it will continue even after the Games. I believe that we must put forward everything before Parliament and the people.”
OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Saturday refuted the allegations. The OC had hired A M Films to provide infrastructure for the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace in London on October 29, 2009.

Reports claimed that over
Rs 3,27,42,000 was transferred through a British bank to the company, which was “also receiving” Rs 18,19,000 a month for costume designing.

According to Kalmadi, the charges are false.  “Every pie is accounted for,” he said.

In a hurriedly organised press conference, Kalmadi dismissed all allegations as “totally unfounded and baseless” and threatened to initiate legal action against those who “have maligned” the Committee’s image. “We have nothing to hide. There is total transparency in the OC and our conscience is clear. All the headlines about money trail story is false. Every pie is accounted for. We are hurt by this allegation,” Kalmadi said.

He said there was no contract between the OC and A M Films, and they had roped in the company only on the recommendation of the Indian High Commission in London. Kalmadi further said the Indian High Commission had recommended the name of A M Films, a little known British company, and “if there is something wrong there, I am not responsible for it.”

Reacting to Kalmadi’s remarks, India’s deputy high commissioner in London said that “the High Commission has not made any (such) recommendation.”