CBI today registered a new case against Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi and other senior officials of 2010 Commonwealth Games organising committee in connection with alleged irregularities in appointment of a Swiss firm as a technical consultant for the sporting event.
CBI sources said the agency registered a case against the company, Kalmadi, former Chairman of Organising Committee, and its other officials for alleged irregularities in contracts given to consultant Event Knowledge Services (EKS).
The agency, however, refused to give any details about the other accused named in the FIR contending it may affect its planned searches at their premises.
According to the report of high-powered Shunglu Committee, EKS was given three contracts of over Rs 70 crore by the OC to extend consultancy services for venue development and management, games workforce, and games planning and project management services.
Last year, the Prime Minister Office, after receiving report of the Shunglu Committee, had also recommended to the Sports Ministry a probe into the contract given to EKS.
"Department of Sports may forward, to the CBI/ED, for action as appropriate, relevant extracts of the report pertaining to the matter of EKS and the clear cases of forgery, falsification, record creation etc, mentioned in case of other highlighted irregularities," the letter from the PMO to the Sports Ministry last year had said.
The committee, in its report submitted to the PMO on March 28, 2011 found several discrepancies in the projects executed by the company and alleged "collusion" among Kalmadi, Chief Executive Officer of CWG Federation Mike Hooper and other senior functionaries of the Games body.
The Shunglu Committee had in its report alleged the contract was awarded to EKS on a single source basis of CEO of CGF Mike Hooper.
"CEO, CGF, made every effort to ensure award of these contracts to EKS. The CEO not only personally testified the credentials of this firm but also justified the reasonableness of rates and maydays utilisation and also attended the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) meetings," it said.
The panel also found indication of "personal interest" by Kalmadi, currently on bail, in giving the contract to EKS.
The allegations levelled by the Shunglu Committee were refuted by EKS which had said in a statement that charges were "incorrect and without foundation".
"The fabrication of the minutes of two meetings (to decide on contracts) purportedly held on January 30, 2008 and March 10, 2008 was strongly suggestive of collusion between OC top management, CGF functionary and EKS for accomplishing its pre-meditated objective," the report had alleged.
The Games Planning and Project Management Contract permitted EKS to assign the same to a sister concern. EKS incorporated a new company in November, 2008 in Mauritius by the name Event Knowledge Services Pvt Ltd.
The entire contract was given to the new company in June 2009, thus, making a mockery of Quality Based Selection System (QBS), it had said.