Kalmadi to CBI: Others too were in the loop on key Games decisions

During nine hours of questioning at the CBI headquarters here on Wednesday,Kalmadi,officials said,was asked about contracts awarded to AM Films. Sources said there will be “two to three more rounds” of questioning — later this week or the next — over allocation of funds,forged e-mails and overlays contracts.

Kalmadi is said to have referred to the role of senior officials of the Sports ministry and of other departments when asked about “key CWG decisions”. He is said to have told the agency that he was not taking unilateral decisions and many other officials — of several government departments — were in the loop.

As for the damaged CD that was recovered in his office,Kalmadi said he destroyed it because it wasn’t “of much relevance,” said an official.

The OC chief expressed surprise over the missing CWG files and investigators said they will further question him on this.

On the sealed bids seized from the OC office after registration of the third FIR — the Rs 107-crore contract for timing scoring and result (TSR) went to a Swiss firm ignoring other bids — Kalmadi is learnt to have asked for time to clarify. He is said to have blamed T S Darbari,S Mohindroo and M Jeychandran for the alleged bungling during the Queen’s Baton Relay.

CBI officials added they will need more time to complete Kalmadi’s questioning in connection with the AM Films before filing the chargesheet against Darbari and Mohindroo.

Kalmadi reached the CBI office at 10.10 am. His questioning began about half an hour later. He was accompanied by six personal security guards and left the agency headquarters at 7 pm. The agency had raided his Pune and Delhi properties on December 24.

Investigators have questioned Kalmadi’s three key aides: political advisor Manoj Bhore,and assistants P K Srivastava and A K Sinha.