Kalmadi gets relief in Queen’s Baton case
23 Aug 2012 6:52 AM IST
The former Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee chairperson Suresh Kalmadi has escaped the noose for now in Queen's Baton Relay scam case. Despite Kalmadi approving the payments to two firms for Queen's Baton Relay function in London, the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) has not named him in its first charge-sheet in the case, raising suspicions about a possible cover-up.
The CBI has filed charges against three Organising Committee officials – the then joint director general, revenue marketing and chairman of the secretariat T S Darbari, the then deputy director general (marketing) Sanjay Mohindroo and the then joint director general (finance) M Jeychandran – besides the owner of London-based firms AM Cars and Van Hire and AM Films UK Limited Ashish Patel.
The CBI had registered two cases against the Organising Committee officials and Patel on 15 November 2010 but did not file charge-sheet, as it was waiting for replies to its Letters Rogatory from the UK. 'As soon as we received reply from the UK, we filed the charge-sheet. The statement of Ashish Patel was also sought, which we have also received,' the CBI officials said. The case relates to alleged fraud of transport payments in Queen's Baton Relay during the CWG ceremonies held in London.
'It is alleged that in relation to the QBR held on October 29, 2009, the OC awarded the work of transportation to the AM Cars and Van Hire Ltd at exorbitantly high rates without following the standard tender process,' the CBI FIR states. While AM Films was awarded work of installing three video screens near the Buckingham Palace, AM Cars had bagged contract for providing logistics.
The charge-sheet further says, 'Sanjay Mohindroo obtained the approval of chairman [of OC] on October 24, 2008, for making exorbitant payment of 146,868 pounds to AM Films UK Ltd and in conspiracy with T S Darbari and M Jeychandran fraudulently got the said payment released from CWG OC.' The CBI investigations revealed that these officials did not follow the standard tendering process and instead favoured Patel's company. All the accused are presently out on bail.
The CBI probe into Patel's firms revealed that he had allegedly submitted fake invoices to get payments released from the Organising Committee. Patel was also questioned by a CBI team, which had travelled to London last year. Now that he has been charge-sheeted, CBI will begin the process of Patel's extradition.
The CBI has filed charges against three Organising Committee officials – the then joint director general, revenue marketing and chairman of the secretariat T S Darbari, the then deputy director general (marketing) Sanjay Mohindroo and the then joint director general (finance) M Jeychandran – besides the owner of London-based firms AM Cars and Van Hire and AM Films UK Limited Ashish Patel.
The CBI had registered two cases against the Organising Committee officials and Patel on 15 November 2010 but did not file charge-sheet, as it was waiting for replies to its Letters Rogatory from the UK. 'As soon as we received reply from the UK, we filed the charge-sheet. The statement of Ashish Patel was also sought, which we have also received,' the CBI officials said. The case relates to alleged fraud of transport payments in Queen's Baton Relay during the CWG ceremonies held in London.
'It is alleged that in relation to the QBR held on October 29, 2009, the OC awarded the work of transportation to the AM Cars and Van Hire Ltd at exorbitantly high rates without following the standard tender process,' the CBI FIR states. While AM Films was awarded work of installing three video screens near the Buckingham Palace, AM Cars had bagged contract for providing logistics.
The charge-sheet further says, 'Sanjay Mohindroo obtained the approval of chairman [of OC] on October 24, 2008, for making exorbitant payment of 146,868 pounds to AM Films UK Ltd and in conspiracy with T S Darbari and M Jeychandran fraudulently got the said payment released from CWG OC.' The CBI investigations revealed that these officials did not follow the standard tendering process and instead favoured Patel's company. All the accused are presently out on bail.
The CBI probe into Patel's firms revealed that he had allegedly submitted fake invoices to get payments released from the Organising Committee. Patel was also questioned by a CBI team, which had travelled to London last year. Now that he has been charge-sheeted, CBI will begin the process of Patel's extradition.
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