The
Central Vigilance Commission has received complaints that put the
cumulative value of alleged corruption in projects related to the
Commonwealth Games between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 8,000 crore.
Sources said the
complaints included payment to non-existent parties, wilful delay in
execution of contracts, inflated prices and bungling in purchase of
equipment through tendering.
“The total
misappropriation amount may touch a figure of Rs 5,000-8,000 crore. The
commission is still awaiting reports from various departments and cannot
give the exact amount involved in the bunglings,” PTI quoted a senior
CVC official as saying.
In reply to an RTI
application from PTI, the anti-corruption watchdog has given details of
projects executed by different government agencies where discrepancies
have been detected.
Complaints regarding
alleged embezzlement of Rs 1.5 crore in purchase of Hova courts for the
badminton stadium, malpractices in the tender for kitchen equipment
installation and misappropriation in video board tenders for remodelling
and upgradation of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium were received by
the CVC. In all cases, reports are awaited from the sports ministry, it
said.
The CVC is probing at
least 22 more Games-related construction and procurement projects
executed by different government agencies.
Several investigative arms of the government are now involved in the Games probe.
The Enforcement
Directorate has registered a case under the Foreign Exchange Management
Act (Fema) to investigate allegations that the Suresh Kalmadi-headed
Games organising committee had indulged in irregularities while awarding
contracts for the Queen’s baton relay.
A CBI team visited the organising committee headquarters to collect documents.
The income tax
department is investigating the award of broadcast rights by Prasar
Bharati to a UK-based company and its Indian arm following charges of
tax evasion.
Glare on Emaar
The Delhi Development
Authority has submitted to urban development minister S. Jaipal Reddy a
report on problems in the construction of the Games Village. Emaar-MGF
Construction had built the Village.
In the report, the
DDA has cited various “irregularities” and “deficiencies” in the
construction of 38 towers of the Village. It also accused the builder of
exceeding the permissible limits of construction, sources said. If the
allegations are proved, the company could face action.
On October 7, Reddy
had written to the DDA that “it has been widely reported that Emaar-MGF
Construction has not executed the project of the development of the
Games Village diligently and efficiently. There are serious complaints
against the project developer, including complaints of construction
against the provisions of the sanctioned plan, as well as not adhering
to the obligations as per the project development agreement. There have
also been reports of delay as well as deficiency in the execution of the
project, which have not only adversely affected the image of DDA but
also the Commonwealth Games as a whole.”
In a statement, Emaar
saidit had complied with all laws and regulations, describing the
Games Village as a world-class structure developed in record time.
Central Vigilance Commission has received complaints that put the
cumulative value of alleged corruption in projects related to the
Commonwealth Games between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 8,000 crore.
Sources said the
complaints included payment to non-existent parties, wilful delay in
execution of contracts, inflated prices and bungling in purchase of
equipment through tendering.
“The total
misappropriation amount may touch a figure of Rs 5,000-8,000 crore. The
commission is still awaiting reports from various departments and cannot
give the exact amount involved in the bunglings,” PTI quoted a senior
CVC official as saying.
In reply to an RTI
application from PTI, the anti-corruption watchdog has given details of
projects executed by different government agencies where discrepancies
have been detected.
Complaints regarding
alleged embezzlement of Rs 1.5 crore in purchase of Hova courts for the
badminton stadium, malpractices in the tender for kitchen equipment
installation and misappropriation in video board tenders for remodelling
and upgradation of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium were received by
the CVC. In all cases, reports are awaited from the sports ministry, it
said.
The CVC is probing at
least 22 more Games-related construction and procurement projects
executed by different government agencies.
Several investigative arms of the government are now involved in the Games probe.
The Enforcement
Directorate has registered a case under the Foreign Exchange Management
Act (Fema) to investigate allegations that the Suresh Kalmadi-headed
Games organising committee had indulged in irregularities while awarding
contracts for the Queen’s baton relay.
A CBI team visited the organising committee headquarters to collect documents.
The income tax
department is investigating the award of broadcast rights by Prasar
Bharati to a UK-based company and its Indian arm following charges of
tax evasion.
Glare on Emaar
The Delhi Development
Authority has submitted to urban development minister S. Jaipal Reddy a
report on problems in the construction of the Games Village. Emaar-MGF
Construction had built the Village.
In the report, the
DDA has cited various “irregularities” and “deficiencies” in the
construction of 38 towers of the Village. It also accused the builder of
exceeding the permissible limits of construction, sources said. If the
allegations are proved, the company could face action.
On October 7, Reddy
had written to the DDA that “it has been widely reported that Emaar-MGF
Construction has not executed the project of the development of the
Games Village diligently and efficiently. There are serious complaints
against the project developer, including complaints of construction
against the provisions of the sanctioned plan, as well as not adhering
to the obligations as per the project development agreement. There have
also been reports of delay as well as deficiency in the execution of the
project, which have not only adversely affected the image of DDA but
also the Commonwealth Games as a whole.”
In a statement, Emaar
saidit had complied with all laws and regulations, describing the
Games Village as a world-class structure developed in record time.