Hooper gives r1 crore dent to OC, ED to probe his role

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Mike Hooper who left India last week did not directly participate in any purchase or dealings pertaining to the Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Mike Hooper who left India last week did not directly participate in any purchase or dealings pertaining to the Games.

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Organising Committee (OC) officials said that Hooper was here to oversee the projects and his departure would not hamper the investigations by various government agencies.

OC officials also said that Hooper pushed for a shady deal with Singapore based SMAM Company. He had also stormed out of the meeting that was conducted in August this year after an uproar that undue favours were being meted out to the company. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is looking into his role for various other deals.

The OC spent R1 crore per year on Hooper's stay in Delhi. This included expenditure on furniture, servants and transportation. "He was not involved in any direct deal. His departure is part of the protocol," said a senior OC official.

Now that Hooper has left, officials are worried about the furniture and other accessories lying at his farmhouse in Sainik Farms. OC officials said they had bought the furniture and would now auction them to recover the costs.

"Whatever communication he did was through e-mails. The investigating agencies can seek the records of these mails,” said the official.