Don't blame me, all agencies favoured Swiss Timing: Kalmadi

Former CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi today told a Delhi Court that he cannot be blamed for alleged irregularities in the award of the contract for timing scoring and result system to Swiss Timing at exorbitant rates as other agencies were also involved in the decision making.

Former CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi on Friday told a Delhi Court that he cannot be blamed for alleged irregularities in the award of the contract for TSR (timing scoring and result) system to Swiss Timing at exorbitant rates as other agencies were also involved in the decision making.

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Kalmadi, who has moved the court for bail, refuted the CBI allegation that he was the main functionary of the Organising Committee and brought about a situation to favour Swiss Timing. "Everyone was allowed to download things from the website.

If only two companies choose to do it, it is not our fault. Not a single person has ever complained that our criterion was so fanciful that it cannot be met," Senior advocate U U Lalit, appearing for Kalmadi, submitted before CBI judge Talwant Singh.

Lalit said the invitation for bids from experienced companies for TSR and allied services was put on the website for all and only two companies --Swiss Timing and MSL Spain --had applied for the contract, for which the former was found eligible at all stages and by all the agencies concerned.

"The criterion was that the applicant should have prior experience in integrating TSR and game network service in similar events in last five years. "While Swiss Timing had the experience of TSR system and other services in Doha 2006 Asian Games, Melbourne CWG in 2006 and Beijing 2008 Olympics, MSL was merely a sub-contractor to Swiss Timings in Doha Games and that too for golf," he said. He also said that the four--member committee formed to decide on the company for TSR was unanimous in choosing Swiss Timing over MSL.

He also said that when the matter was sent to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, it also decided in the favour of the Swiss firm for its experience. The matter has been posted for May 16. Kalmadi, 66, is lodged in Tihar jail since May 4. He was arrested by the CBI on April 25, for allegedly buying TSR equipment from Swiss Timing at inflated price of Rs 141 crore for the mega sporting event.