Noose tightens around Games OC

With investigations by half-a-dozen probe agencies to unearth the extent of alleged financial irregularities in various projects linked to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) gaining tempo, the heat seems to be building up on the officials of the CWG Organising Committee.

With investigations by half-a-dozen probe agencies to unearth the extent of alleged financial irregularities in various projects linked to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) gaining tempo, the heat seems to be building up on the officials of the CWG Organising Committee.

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VK Verma, OC director general, has been asked by the Enforcement Directorate to appear before it as a "witness" on Wednesday. "Verma got the letter on Tuesday," said a source.

The Enforcement Directorate has also sent summon to former OC joint director M Jeychandran to appear before it on October 28 for

questioning for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities committed during the Queen's Baton Relay launch programme in London in 2009. Jeychandran's service was terminated by OC in August after his name cropped up in the baton relay money laundering case.

"As OC DG, Verma had cleared files related to the Queen's Baton Relay launch which happened in London in October 2009. He is an important witness in the case and hence has been asked by ED to appear before it," said a source.

CVC probing nexus of DDA officials

Did Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials unduly favour a Mumbai based company for two lucrative CWG projects, despite having neither the "expertise" nor the "competence" to handle them?

Already under fire for various lapses, the agency appeared headed for fresh trouble with the CVC probing the involvement of DDA officials in giving contract to a dubious private firm, M/s Sportina Payce Construction (India) Private Limited.

The said firm was given a Rs 23 crore contract to lay the foundation of the squash and badminton court in Siri Fort Sports complex and another Rs 63 crore contract in April 2008 to build training venues at the Games Village.

While the firm repeatedly missed deadlines in Siri Fort, resulting in the DDA levying a penalty of Rs 52 lakh, its contract was cancelled after it failed to complete the training venues in the Games Village.