CWG: CBI registers 3 new cases, raids 20 places

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday raided over 20 locations across Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata and registered three new cases in its ongoing probe into the Commonwealth Games swindle.

The investigating agency filed the three FIRs in connection with the renovation of Shivaji and Talkatora stadiums for the Games and the appointment of consultants.

It then went to on to carry out searches in at least 20 locations across the three cities, including residences and offices of six New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) and two Central Public Works Department (CPWD) officials.

Two companies and a consultant, allegedly involved in the financial scandal were searched and incriminating documents and cash was recovered in the raids, media reports said.

CBI officials said that the government officers who were raided on Wednesday were responsible for contacting renovation work on the stadiums at very high rates.

While the Shivaji stadium missed its completion deadline despite the steep price charged from the taxpayer, the upgradation of the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Complex was contracted at over 160 percent higher than the planned cost.

The CBI is now trying to verify of the professional profiles of the consultants, to whom the work was contracted to, were genuine or not.

India faced humiliation before the entire world in the run up to the Games owing to shabby preparations. The Games which, however, concluded without any major hitch and Indian athletes brought several accolades to the nation.

The Union sports ministry on Jan 24 removed Suresh Kalmadi and Lalit Bhanot as the chairman and secretary general of the organizing committee of the Commonwealth Games, which were held in Delhi in October.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, taking a serious view of the findings by the Shunglu Committee report that investigated the scam cases, has already promised stern action against those found guilty for the irregularities.