OC refuses to reveal overlay contract-related documents

Already reeling under allegations of financial irregularities, the Organising Committee (OC) has refused to divulge any information regarding overlay contracts worth over Rs 630 crore for the CommonWealth Games.

Already reeling under allegations of financial irregularities, the Organising Committee (OC) has refused to divulge any information regarding overlay contracts worth over Rs 630 crore for the CommonWealth Games.

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Replying to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by activist Subhash Chandra Aggarwal, the OC has said that disclosure of these documents would compromise commercial interests as the contracts are underway.

“The contracts are underway and copies cannot be provided at this stage.”

Aggarwal had, in his RTI application, sought information on various overlay contracts entered into by the OC, the procedures followed, total budget available at the discretion of OC for Commonwealth Games etc.

The OC has cited Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, which exempts from disclosure of information that includes “commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm competitive position of a third party”.

The contracts with firms supplying overlays generated huge controversy about alleged irregularities in the deals. Allegations were levelled that overlays have been procured at a much higher prices than market rates.

The only information that the Organising Committee divulged was that it had entered into an agreement with four companies — ESAJV, D-Art, Indo consortium, GL Events, Meroform consortium, Nuseeli (Switzerland) Ltd, Pico Deepali Overlays Consortium — which were given contracts worth Rs 630.23 crore.

“The information given by the OC was inadequate and incomplete,” said Aggarwal.