CWG scam: Another Kalmadi aide arrested

After sacked Joint Director General T S Darbari, suspended deputy director-general Sanjay Mahendroo was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday over the Commonwealth Games (CWG) corruption scandals.

Both Darbari and Mahendroo are considered to be close to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and chairman of the CWGOC Suresh Kalmadi.

Darbari was sacked on Aug 9 over allegations of irregularities in payments to the UK-based AM Films.

The CBI on Monday filed forgery cases against former officials of OC and raided four places here, including the committee office, residences of T S Darbari, deputy director-general Sanjay Mahendroo and Raj Singh, a high-ranking official of OC.

Both Darbari and Mahendroo were arrested by the CBI.

According to the allegations, UK businessman Ashish Patel’s AM Films was paid about a quarter of a million pounds, 100 per cent in advance, for “services rendered” during the Queen’s Baton Ceremony in London last year.

Darbari and Mahendroo had allegedly doctored the documents to show that AM Films was recommended by Indian High Comission in London for various services.

After his sacking, Darbari had hit back at Kalmadi saying the whole deal went through after being approved by Kalmadi himself.

Darbari also came under the scanner about nine months ago when he was accused of smuggling a diamond ring worth Rs 28 lakh from Dubai. He is considered influential and close to many politicians. He was also close to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.