C’Wealth Games: CBI to ask UK for details on deals relating to Queen's Baton Relay

CBI, which came under fire for not filing the chargesheet against suspended official of Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) TS Darbari within the stipulated 60 days, will ask the United Kingdom to give details of alleged wrongful transactions made during the Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) in London.

TS Darbari and Sanjay Mahendroo, both Organising Committee officials, were arrested by CBI on November 15, 2010, in conenction with contracts awarded to London-based AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited at exorbitant rates with regard to Queen's Baton Relay function in London on October 29, 2009.

The duo are facing charges of causing losses to the state exchequer to the tune of Rs1.55 crore in the QBR.

CBI, however, failed to produce any charge sheet against the duo in the case within the stipulated 60 days resulting in grant of bail to Darbari by the Delhi high court today.

Mahendroo would also be released on the ground of parity as he is also in jail for the last 60 days. He has not moved any bail application.

Sources privy to the investigation said the probe is still incomplete as details of entire transactions which took place in the United Kingdom are yet to come from there.

They said to get the details, CBI will issue Letters Rogatory to the UK soon.

Meanwhile, CBI has time till January 20 to file the charge sheet against the third accused in the case CWG OC official M Jaychandran who was arrested on November 21, failing which he too would have to be released on bail.

CBI had registered two cases in connection with contracts awarded to A M Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited at exorbitant rates.

The first case was registered by CBI under IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the award of contract to AM car and Van Hire Limited.

The second case involves London-based A M Films and the probe agency had named Mahendroo, Darbari and others under sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency had conducted searches at their premises besides the OC headquarters here. CBI also questioned CWG OC chief Suresh Kalmadi and carried out searches at his premises in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai.