CBI likely to chargesheet Suresh Kalmadi today
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to chargesheet former Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) chief Suresh Kalmadi in connection to financial irregularities during the mega event, on Friday.
According to CBI sources, in its first chargesheet on the CWG scam, the agency will name Kalmadi, the then officials – Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, Director General V K Verma, Deputy Director General (procurement) Surjeet Lal and beneficiary company Swiss Timing.
So far, the CBI has registered 11 First Information Reports (FIRs) in cases related to the scam.
On May 18, a Delhi court extended judicial custody of Kalmadi till June 1.
Meanwhile, Kalmadi?s lawyers moved an application seeking the court?s permission for his appearance via video conference.
The court will hear the application on May 21.
The court also extended judicial custody of OC Joint Director General (Sports) ASV Prasad and OC Deputy Director General (Procurement) Surjit Lal till June 1.
The Patiala House court on May 4 extended Kalmadi?s judicial custody by 14 days. He was taken back to Tihar Central Jail after the hearing.
Kalmadi was ordered eight-day police custody by a court on Apr 26 after he was charged for one of several financial swindles that he is believed to have masterminded.
Kalmadi was arrested by the CBI on Apr 25 for allegedly awarding a contract for the mega event to a Swiss company at an inflated rate of Rs 141 crore in a “pre-meditated” manner.
Through his inflated contracts, Kalmadi allegedly tripled the cost of the event to nearly $6 billion and embarrassed India before the entire world in the run up to the Games owing to shabby preparations.
The Games however concluded without any major hitch and Indian athletes brought several accolades to the nation.
Till now, seven people, including Kalmadi, have been arrested in connection with the Commonwealth Games scam.
Others, who have been arrested, include Verma, Lalit Bhanot, Sanjay Mohindroo, M Jayachandran, TS Darbai and Kalmadi’s personal assistant Shekhar Deorukhkar.