More trouble for Games' organisers

As the three-member probe panel set up by it began investigations into the allegations of corruption, the CGOC found itself on a sticky wicket as it came to light that one of its key officials had asked a UK-based company to inflate the taxi hiring rates.

Television channels produced an e-mail purportedly written by Dr Sanjay Mohindroo, CGOC’s Deputy Director General who has now resigned, asking Ashish Patel, the owner of AM Films which is at the centre of controversy, to inflate the taxi hire rates. Patel has however denied any wrongdoing.

As per the e-mail, Mohindroo asked Patel to fix the hire rates at 450 pounds per day, an amount which was said to be 300 pounds more than the usual rate.

The unsavoury development in India has left the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) very concerned.

“CGF is really concerned about the allegations and the matter needs very urgent and immediate attention by the Indian authorities. The allegations have led to such level of corruption that has breached all the rules of how you procure and how you handle the matter,” CGF President Mike Fennell said.

“That’s why we need to resolve this speedily. We can’t allow it to hang over the Games and affect the organisation of the Games therefore such allegations needs to be handled speedily and with full transparency,” he added.

Earlier in the day, the Australian company, which was hired to raise sponsorship for the Games, said it would “forego” commission from the contribution made by Indian PSUs and denied getting any payment for its services so far.

According to reports, Melbourne-based Sports Marketing and Management’s (SMAM) contract with the OC is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate for payments worth millions of dollars but the company said the reports were “baseless and unfounded”.

Meanwhile, the CGOC came out with a detailed explanation of the expenditure on overlays, vehemently denying charges of inflated quotations and payments.

CGOC secretary general Lalit Bhanot dismissed reports that the OC had extravagantly spent for hiring items like air-conditioners and treadmills.

He also said the bidding process had been ‘transparent’ and there were several government nominees on the committees that scrutinised and vetted the deals at various levels.

Bhanot said instead of renting equipment like treadmills, CGOC  had now decided to buy them outright so that they are left as a legacy of the Games.

“What is being reported in the media is the proposals by different companies. The equipment to be used by athletes will be purchased by the organising committee on behalf of the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi University and Jamia University,” Bhanot said.