CWG scam: Bail denied to 2 accused

A CBI court on Friday denied bail to CWG Organizing Committee general secretary Lalit Bhanot and former director general VK Verma. HT reports.

A CBI court on Friday denied bail to CWG Organizing Committee general secretary Lalit Bhanot and former director general VK Verma. The officials were arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in awarding a R107 crore contract to a Swiss firm in procuring the Timing, Scoring and Result (TSR) system for the Commonwealth Games.

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The defence counsel for Bhanot and Verma contended before CBI judge Talwant Singh that the investigating agency had deliberately added the harsher penal provision of section 467 (forgery of valuable security) of the IPC against the accused. The counsel said it was a move to get 90 days to file the chargesheet. They argued that the CBI has not told the court about the valuable securities.

The CBI counsel said the investigations are in progress, and the ongoing probe could reveal some new information.

The judge however, denied bail to both the accused. Bhanot and Verma are presently in judicial custody till May 5.

CBI has registered a case against the two under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Switzerland-based firm Swiss Timing Ltd and other unnamed persons.