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Journalism of Courage
Probing allegations of corruption during the Commonwealth Games,the CBI today turned up at the doors of Suresh Kalmadi,chief of the Games Organising Committee,and searched his homes and offices in New Delhi,Pune and Mumbai.With crucial files relating to Games contracts missing,the CBI is now considering slapping charges of destruction of evidence against the OC top brass,including Kalmadi.The view to charge the OC heads for obstructing investigation has strengthened within the agency after it failed to get Kalmadi and Secretary General Lalit Bhanot removed. The Indian Express had first reported that CBI Director A P Singh had written to Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar seeking their removal from the OC as they were coming in the way of the probe.CBI sources contend that critical files relating to all three cases that have been registered so far have gone missing. The cases relate to contracts awarded to AM Cars and AM Films during the Queens Baton Relay in London and the purchase of the Timing,Scoring and Results (TSR) equipment. Cases under Section 201 of the IPC (destruction of evidence) can be filed, said a senior official.
Kalmadi was questioned today when his house was searched in New Delhi and the CBI team left with documents. Agency officials claimed that the searches had to do with the money paid to AM Films for video screen installation during the QBR.
It is learnt that the CBI moved against Kalmadi after T S Darbari,Joint Director General of the OC during the Games and now in custody,wrote a letter to the CBI Director last month claiming that the decision to make payment to AM Films was considered on file and this decision was further endorsed and approved on file by Treasurer Jayachandran,Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.
After the searches today,Kalmadi told reporters: I have not taken any decision alone. All decisions have been taken by the Executive Board.
The CBI registered a case in this matter on November 15 against AM Films owner Ashish Patel,Sanjay Mohindroo and T S Darbari under sections relating to cheating,forgery and criminal conspiracy.
Darbari,Mohindroo and Jayachandran have already been arrested by the CBI which has registered three FIRs until now. Kalmadi has not been named so far in any FIR.
Around 7 am today,several teams of CBI landed at Kalmadis Kamaraj Lane residence in Delhi,at the Kalmadi House off Karve Road in Pune,and at his Mumbai house and office in the OC headquarters.
The CBI also went to the residence of Kalmadis personal assistant Manoj Bhore in Khadki,Pune. In Delhi,his aide Shekhar was called to the CBI headquarters.
In Pune,even domestic helps were stopped from entering Kalmadi House. A CBI team later took Vinod Surve,staffer at Kalmadi House,to other premises owned by the Pune MP. The team also visited the Sai Service office on Jangali Maharaj Road and the Kalmadi farmhouse in Khanapur,about 15 km from Pune.
DIG Binita Thakur,the CBI spokesperson,said: Important documents have been recovered in the raids which are being scrutinised. The CBI seized three computers,two laptops and a black bag containing documents from the house of Kalmadi.
After the CBI team left,Kalmadi told reporters: I am innocent till proven guilty. You all (media) are pronouncing me guilty… the OC was given a budget of Rs 1,500 crore which is four to five per cent of the total budget for the Games and we have,by way of revenue,generated Rs 700 crore from the Games.
Asked about the searches,he said,I offered them full cooperation. I had said after giving the successful CWG that the Organising Committee was ready for any investigation… I have written to the CBI chief and informed him that the OC has handed over all documents. In case there are some left,the same will be provided.
