QBR probe: CBI may get UK businessman extradited

The CBI is exploring the option of contacting British authorities to get London-based businessman Ashish Patel extradited for his alleged non-cooperation in connection with the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) probe.

The CBI is exploring the option of contacting British authorities to get London-based businessman Ashish Patel extradited for his alleged non-cooperation in connection with the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) probe.

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According to the agency’s First Information Reported lodged last November, Patel’s firms — AM Films and AM Cars & Vans — had bagged two QBR-related contracts worth around R4.5 crore from the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) in an irregular manner and at exorbitant rates.

The OC struck a deal with AM Films in October 2009 for the installation of three video screens near the Buckingham Palace, and awarded a contract to AM Cars & Vans for providing various logistics.

A CBI team, comprising additional director VK Gupta and DIG SK Palsania, had “examined” Patel in London in April.

“Patel assured us then that he would record a statement with the British authorities within 15 days of his meeting with the CBI team, but he has not done that till now,” said a source.

Patel’s statement was not among the set of documents sent to the CBI recently by United Kingdom’s Scotland Yard authorities via the diplomatic channels, according to the source. After a delay of over a year, the OC recently received around R49 lakh as Value Added Tax refund from UK authorities in connection to its payments made to Patel’s firms for the QBR event.