CWG case: District judge sends file back to trial court

The Delhi district judge Tuesday sent the file of a corruption case releated to the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) to the trial court for hearing on Feb 23 and deferred the proceedings on a defence counsel's allegation doubting a fair trial.

District Judge Sunita Gupta listed the matter for March 5 for hearing the submission of prosecution over allegations of defence counsel.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Talwant Singh Feb 16 adjourned the hearing of the CWG case and sought directions from the district judge after defence counsel Ramesh Gupta, appearing for former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee secretary general Lalit Bhanot raised doubts over getting a fair trial.

Counsel Gupta along with former CWG Organising Committee's chief Suresh Kalmadi's counsel Siddharth Luthra told the district judge that the submission was made to point out the daily proceedings of the case affecting the life of the accused and others.

“Since date of scrutiny is fixed on Feb 23, so there is no need for the accused to be present in court on every day in between as the scrutiny is to be done in the chambers of the advocates and not in court,” Gupta had said before Judge Singh. 

Judge Gupta sent the file to the trial court to take up the matter Feb 23. Judge Singh also denied Gupta's allegation and termed it false. He refused to hold any proceedings till a direction was given by the district judge to whom he sent the case file.

The special court was hearing a case against Kalmadi, Bhanot and nine others in a corruption case related to alleged financial irregularities in awarding a Rs.141 crore contract for the time scoring and records system for the 2010 mega sporting event held here.