CWG revenue loss at over Rs 1,300 crore: Report

The graft-scarred 19th Commonwealth Games (CWG) held here last year lead to a revenue loss of over Rs 1,300 crores and the deficit is expected to filled from the taxpayers pocket, a national news network reported.

Digging out murky details with the Right to Information Act, television news network NDTV reported that the Games, which were expected to have earned about Rs 1,780 crores ended up making just Rs 400 crores.

The findings come as the noose on CWG Organising Committee (OC) chief Suresh Kalmadi seems to be tightening as authorities crack down on people associated with controversial Games, gradually closing in on the Congress MP from Pune.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested former OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and its ex director-general V K Verma over financial irregularities during the Games. The takedowns come in a series of arrests by the investigating agency.

Replying to a question on whether Kalmadi, who was sacked by Sports Minister Ajay Maken in January this year, is likely to be arrested too, a CBI spokesperson said ?Let us wait and see.”

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.