CBI quizzes Kalmadi aides Bhanot, Bhore in CWG scam

NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday questioned Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee (CGOC)

chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s key aides Lalit Bhanot and Manoj Bhore

as part of its probe into corruption in the preparations for the Games.

According to CBI sources, Kalmadi’s personal secretary Manoj Bhore was questioned in connection with the case involving a Britain-based firm over its controversial contract during the Queen’s Baton Relay.

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

The charges against Kalmadi include overspending - by crores of rupees - in holding the mega Games that drew some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories and which were marred by controversies even before they began — over shoddy work, delays and corruption.

The agency had conducted raids at the Bhore’s residence in Pune last week.

The CBI’s questions to Organising Committee secretary general Bhanot are likely to reveal details about Kalmadi’s alleged bungling of funds, sources said. Bhanot’s residence had been raided, along with that of OC director general V.K. Verma Nov 30.

The agency has so far filed three complaints in connection with the alleged irregularities in the CWG preperations. Two of the first information reports (FIR) are in connection with the contract to AM Films. The other one is related to Rs.107 crore spent on overlays at the CWG Village and other Games venues.

The CBI had Friday conducted raids at Kalmadi’s home and offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, as part of its investigations into the multi-crore sporting extravaganza.

Three other aides of Kalmadi — T.S. Darbari, Sanjay Mohindroo and M. Jayachandran — are in custody in connection with financial scams related to the Games.