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Organising Committee sets up probe
A cornered Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on Tuesday was forced to constitute a three-member probe panel to look into the charges of misappropriation of funds during the hosting of the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) in London last year.
A cornered Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on Tuesday was forced to constitute a three-member probe panel to look into the charges of misappropriation of funds during the hosting of the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) in London last year. The panel headed by Jarnail Singh, the OC Chief Executive, will submit its report on Wednesday. The other two members are GC Chaturvedi, Special Director-General, Finance and Gurjyot Kaur, Chief Vigilance Officer.
The panel will look into all transactions between the OC and AM Films, which was given Rs 3 crore for providing services during the QBR. Though the OC felt the mails circulated by chairman Suresh Kalmadi were ‘clean’, it said, “the truth would come out tomorrow”.
OC Secretary-General Lalit Bhanot said: “Whatever has transpired between us and the Indian High Commission in London would be looked into including the transaction between us and AM Car and Vans Limited.” He also said the MEA’s charges regarding the mail would also be looked into.
Darbari still there
TS Darbari, one of the two names to figure in the mail, is still working for the OC, though the Sports Ministry has asked the OC to sack him. Sanjay Mahendroo, the other name that appeared on the mail, according to OC, left the organisation a couple of months back. When asked, Bhanot, said, “Darbari is still on our payrolls. We have received the letter from the ministry and will look into it. Mahendroo doesn’t work for us anymore.”
Handover of stadiums
Though Aug 1 was supposed to be the date on which the OC would have liked to take charge of the venues, it was yet to take charge of most.The OC, however, has played down the issue and said it would take charge of the stadiums in a few days with complete paperwork. Safety certificates are an area of concern. Bhanot felt there was no problem with the stadiums. “We have started taking charge.”
