Ministry asks OC to give info on hiring of two aides

As investigations into the financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games projects gained momentum, the spotlight turned to key aides of Games’ Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi for their alleged role in the mismanagement.

As investigations into the financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games projects gained momentum, the spotlight turned to key aides of Games’ Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi for their alleged role in the mismanagement.

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In a recent meeting, the sports ministry directed the OC chief vigilance officer, Gurjot Kaur, to furnish all details related to the appointment of Sangeeta Wellinkar, additional director general, and RK Sacheti, joint director general.

Wellinkar, who worked with Kalmadi during the Pune Youth Games, was head of OC Image and Looks team. Sacheti, who worked with the OC chief when he was minister of state for railways in the PV Narasimha Rao government, was in-charge of Games coordination and providing accreditation facilities. Image and looks and the coordination were two of the most mismanaged functional areas.

“We want to know the selection process of these two OC functionaries and who in the selection panel approved their appointments. We want to see if due process was followed in their appointment,” said a source in the ministry.

Sacheti is already under the scanner of Central Vigilance Commission on charges of misusing his official position.

In another development, the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is unlikely to accede to Delhi government’s request to keep 51 city improvement projects out of the purview of Games inquiry.