There is more trouble brewing for sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi as one of his trusted lieutenants,Dr Sanjay Mohindroo,is spilling the beans and co-operating in the CWG probe. On Thursday,Mohindroo was questioned by the CBI for nearly three hours at its headquarters where he claimed innocence. Mohindroo,former Deputy Director (Marketing) in the OC,was recently granted bail after the CBI failed to file a chargesheet against him. The investigation agency had in November registered two cases during the CWG probe and arrested T S Darbari,Mohindroo and M Jayachandran in the first case. No arrests have been made in the second case. After he was granted bail in the first case,Mohindroo had moved the court to surrender in the second case and was directed to appear before the CBI. On Thursday,appearing before the CBI,Mohindroo claimed innocence,saying he had resigned from the OC and was not aware about any wrongdoing. CBI officials have said they are awaiting a reply from the UK authorities to question Mohindroo further with regard to his role in the second case. According to the agency,Mohindroo and others,in conspiracy with London-based A M Films,awarded the work of installation of video screens at the venue of the Queens Baton Relay at exorbitant rates. We have questioned Mohindroo on the tender and work awarded to the London-based firm and who was responsible for clearing the fake quotations without following the standard procedure, said an official of the CBI. In his reply to the agency Mohindroo,however,said he had resigned at least 2-3 months back before the commencement of the Games in October 2010. The CBI also questioned him on the huge bill of £32,758 for which he had sought reimbursement from the OC. According to the agency,out of the £440,000 sanctioned for the Queens Baton Relay launch in 2009,the OC advanced £127,930 to Mohindroo for transportation,accommodation and other expenses of the OC team that went to London. The team and delegates stayed at the St James Court Hotel. The agency has also named T S Darbari,who was recently granted bail by the Delhi High Court,and Ashish Patel as accused in the second case. During its raid at Kalmadis house on December 24,the CBI had claimed to have seized documents related to installations of video screens at the QBR. The CBI is expected to call Mohindroo and Darbari for questioning again. Mohindroo in his statements has claimed that Darbari was aware of the developments and was handling the OC accounts after he had resigned, added the official.
