CWG scam: CBI to file 5 more cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to lodge five more cases as part of its probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) by its organising committee (OC).

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to lodge five more cases as part of its probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) by its organising committee (OC).

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For this, the agency will be "turning its preliminary enquiry (PE) complaints to first information reports (FIRs)", said a CBI source.

Among the new cases that are likely to be filed by the investigating agency include a PE on alleged irregularities related to the award of technical consultancy contracts to a foreign firm.

These contracts, worth around Rs 71 crore, were given to the firm without seeking a mandatory approval from a government panel, said the source. It is suspected that the contracts were awarded to the firm without inviting tenders.

The contracts pertained to venue development, Games’ Workforce Services and Games' Planning Project & Risk Management Services.

The CBI is also likely to file a case on alleged irregularities in the ticketing management by accused organising committee officials that resulted in a loss of R61 crore to the state exchequer. The agency' probe has revealed that the OC had designated around 51% of the 11.4-lakh printed tickets as free, of which around 47% was complimentary, said the source.

The OC had originally estimated that it would earn around Rs 100 crore from the sale of tickets, which in turn was meant for funding the CWG expenditure.

The then chief of the OC's ticketing functional area (FA) had even recommended that the committee should stop the distribution of unsold tickets as complimentary for any sporting discipline, except athletics, but he was over-ruled.

Further, the agency is likely to file a case regarding the alleged irregularities committed by accused OC officials in the appointment of a few FA chiefs and around 19 advisors/ consultants.

The agency is also probing irregularities related to the award of contracts of sponsorship and catering services. It has so far filed 15 FIRs as part of the probe against accused OC and other government officials.