Games graft: Mahendroo to appear before CBI Feb 27
By IANSTuesday, January 25, 2011
NEW DELHI - A Delhi court Tuesday asked former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) official Sanjay Mahendroo to appear before the CBI Feb 27, after he offered to surrender in the second case against him over alleged financial lapses during the Queens Baton Relay (QBR) in London last year.
“Let applicant (Mahendroo) be present before the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) on Feb 27 and, thereafter, as and when his presence is required, he shall be given a notice of 48 hours in advance,” said Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh.
The court in its order mentioned that if former OC deputy director general Mahendroos day-to-day presence was required, he may be given notice.
Earlier during the proceeding, counsel appearing on behalf of Mahendroo submitted before the court that he would be available to CBI for investigation from Thursday onwards.
Responding to Mahendroos plea, the CBI contended that as of now the agency did not require his custody.
Mahendroo had filed an application before Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh Jan 20 expressing his willingness to surrender himself before the investigating agency.
On Jan 15, a court granted bail to Mahendroo in the first case related to the Queen’s Baton Relay. He was given bail as the CBI failed to file a charge sheet against him within the stipulated 60 days of his arrest.
Mahendroo, along with two other OC officials, was arrested by the CBI after it registered two cases in connection with contracts awarded to London-based AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited at exorbitant rates.
No arrest has been made in connection with the second case involving AM Films UK Limited.
The CBI said Mahendroo and two others caused losses to the state exchequer in award of contract to the tune of Rs 1.55 crore with regard to QBR in London before the Games in October last year.
As per the prosecutions allegation the work of installation of video screens was awarded to AM Films UK Limited on the basis of fake quotation and even those quotations were not signed by the person who sent them.
