Baton Relay: CBI to send Letters Rogatory to UK

CBI will soon send Letters Rogatory (LR) to the United Kingdom for questioning Ashish Patel and seeking financial details about his two firms A M Films and A M Cars for allegedly making arrangements for the Queens Baton Relay (QBR) at exorbitant rates.

CBI will soon send Letters Rogatory (LR) to the United Kingdom for questioning Ashish Patel and seeking financial details about his two firms A M Films and A M Cars for allegedly making arrangements for the Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) at exorbitant rates.

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While the CBI is questioning sacked Deputy Director General (Marketing) of the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games (CWG) Sanjay Mohindroo and sacked Joint Director General of OC T S Darbari, their statements needed to be verified and corroborated from Patel as well, official sources said.

Patel has been named in both the cases that have been registered by the CBI in connection with the QBR, a function which was held in London and attended by President Pratibha Patil.

CBI sources said the LR will be sent as soon as possible.

The first case was registered under criminal conspiracy (120-B) cheating (420), 468 and 471 (forgery) of IPC and some sections of Prevention of Corruption Act against Darbari, Mohindroo and Patel owned A M Cars and Vans.

In this case, the CBI has alleged that the accused officials of Organising Committee (OC), in connivance with the London-based transport firm and its Director awarded work to A M Cars and Vans at exorbitant rates without following the tender process, CBI said.

The second case was registered under criminal conspiracy and cheating and various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act against Darbari and Mohindroo and Patel-owned AM Films.

It is alleged that the accused officials of Organising Committee in conspiracy with A M Films awarded the work of installation of video screens at the venue of Queens Baton Relay at exorbitant rates.

The work was awarded to the London-based firm purportedly on the basis of fake quotations and without following the standard procedure, CBI alleged.

Both Darbari and Mohindroo are at present in CBI custody after they were arrested by the agency on November 15 following searches at various places in connection with the case.

Ashish Patel is already facing a seven-year ban by the UK Registrar of Companies (RoC).