CWG organising committee member Darbari sacked

TS Darbari became the first Commonwealth Games organising committee member on Monday to go under the Enforcement Directorate (ED) scanner for alleged money laundering. He was questioned for hours by ED officials in New Delhi.

Darbari, who was organising committee (OC) joint director-general before he was suspended pending inquiry after his name cropped up in alleged corruption during the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) launch in London, arrived at ED’s Jamnagar House office in the morning.

While news agencies reported Darbari had been sacked, this could not be confirmed independently since OC officials refused comment on the development.

PTI said he had been told to hand over charge to additional director general VK Saxena.

“The ministry had written several letters to OC asking for his [Darbari’s] ouster because of the cases in the Enforcement Directorate and the last such communication was made on August 6. The ministry was not happy that he was merely suspended,” the agency quoted a source as saying.

“According to an order from OC, pending inquiry by ED into the case of alleged involvement of Darbari, who is joint director general [PSUs, sponsorship and marketing], in the payment of an unreasonable amount to a British firm at the time of the QBR ceremony in London, his services are hereby terminated with immediate effect,” the source said.

“He will hand over all documents, papers and equipment to VK Saxena, additional DG [PSUs, marketing and sponsorship],” he said.

According to OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Darbari oversaw QBR preparations in London, which became the focal point of a corruption storm following revelations that little-known UK-based firm AM Films was paid lakhs of pounds through Royal Bank of Scotland for “services” during the event.

Darbari was suspended last week along with OC’s deputy director general Sanjay Mohindroo and joint director general (accounts and finance) M Jaychandran.

Reports said OC was forced to take action against him because of persistent efforts by the sports ministry, which was unhappy with mere suspension. ED sources said Darbari was summoned to explain financial transactions during QBR in London last year and the payments made to AM films. ED is investigating him under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

It is learnt that Darbari denied his role in corruption and said he was only following orders. The decision to release payments had the consent of OC chairman Kalmadi, he is reported to have said.