Noting that corruption is a more serious problem (affecting India) than terrorism,a CBI court on Friday dismissed the bail pleas of former Commonwealth Games officials T S Darbari and M Jayachandran,who are facing charges under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption (POC) Act. The court also extended the judicial custody of Darbari,Jayachandran and another accused,Sanjay Mahendroo,to December 24. Darbari,a former joint director of the Games Organising Committee,was arrested on November 15 after he was sacked in August for alleged irregularities while performing his duties. Jaychandran was arrested on November 21. The accused are facing charges related to awarding of a contract to UK-based firm AM Car and Van Hire Limited for transportation services during the Queens Baton Relay in London in October last year. This had allegedly cost the government Rs 1.55 crore. The work of transportation was awarded to AM Car and Van Hire Limited without following the standard process of tenders. the very contract of hiring of the vehicles was awarded on forged and fabricated documents at higher rates,thereby causing losses to the Government of India, CBI Special Judge A S Yadav said in his 10-page order. Rejecting the contention of the accused that a high-powered committee had taken the decision regarding the contract,the court noted that they had even forged emails to justify their decision to award the contract to the London-based firm. Darbari also contended that being an employee of a registered society (OC),he cannot be termed as a public servant and,hence cannot be tried under the POC Act. My primary role was limited only to coordinating with multiple agencies in England, he submitted. The court,however,ruled: Corruption is a more serious problem (affecting India) than terrorism. it has tarnished the image of the country. He (Darbari) is a public servant under Section 2 (c) (iii) of the POC Act. Refuting Jayachandrans claim that he was not a part of the conspiracy,the CBI court noted,It is evident that Darbari discussed the matter with Jayachandran as well. The advance payments were released by Jayachandran. The court also did not pay any heed to the defence counsels submission that the documentary evidence is already in the control and custody of the CBI,and there was no question of them being tampered with by the accused.
