CBI books CWG officials Bhanot and Verma, conducts raids

NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday filed a case against top Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) officials Lalit Bhanot and V.K. Verma for alleged irregularities and raided their homes and offices.

While Bhanot is the OC secretary general, Verma is the OC director general. A case has been filed against them for cheating and misuse of post, a source said. Both are considered very close to OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

According to the source, the CBI is still conducting raids at 11 places in the national capital and the neighbouring townships of Noida and Gurgaon in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of the Time Scoring Board used in the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

“The searches are still on and all details will be provided,” an official maintained.

The CBI is probing the alleged irregularities in the OC’s contract of Rs.107 crore with a firm to procure the Time Scoring Board.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month questioned Verma for his alleged role in the financial irregularities in the Queen’s Baton Relay in London in 2009.

Three other aides of Kalmadi — T.S. Darbari, Sanjay Mohindroo and M. Jayachandran — are already in custody for their alleged involvement in the Queen’s Baton Relay scam.

The OC is understood to have paid AM Films - a sister concern of AM Car - over 450,000 pounds for services during the Queen’s Baton Relay function in London in October 2009 without following proper tendering procedures and paper work.

Kalmadi had Monday claimed he had not committed any offence and was ready to answer all CBI questions.