Foreign firms involved in CWG scam, alleges RTI activist

 “Some of these foreign companies are involved in corruption cases in tandem with their Indian partners and CBI is investigating the cases. The Centre should ask these countries to charge these companies instead of making their pending payments,” said Aggrawal who has asked for details from the Union sports ministry.

Foreign mission heads have asked for a total of $ 70 million  “pending payment” for the companies involved in contract and supply to the Commonwealth Games.

Talking to Deccan Herald the Guinness Record Holder and RTI Activist said he had received a detailed reply form the sports ministry giving pending payment details of  two-dozen foreign companies. The payment bill is as much as  11.8 million dollars for one company (Sports Marketing and Management, Australia) to 10 million Euros (France-GL) for another.  These payments are due from Commonwealth Sports Organizing Committee. Prasar Bharti is also listed as having defaulted in not paying 12 million pounds to a UK company. Similarly, Peddle ThorpeArthitects  from Australia  have not yet received two million dollars from Delhi Development Authority.

In seeking these revealing information Aggarwal had cited a report of March 14 saying foreign missions had shot off a letter to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for clearing pending bills of the companies of their respective countries. He wrote his RTI letter on March 21 and received response on April 4 .

Aggarwal had asked the sports ministry to spell out what actions they had taken in repose to the demands made by the foreign missions.  “I will get details of action taken shortly,” he said.

In their letter to the Finance Ministry, the missions have said:  “We write to convey our growing concern  over the lack of progress in resolving important commercial, matters in connection with the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Our concerns extend beyond the Organising Committee (embracing bodies such as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Prasar Bharti). Four months after the event finished, nearly twenty companies from our countries still await full payment against contracts entered into in good faith,” they said.