CWG scam: Court reserves order on plea to separate Omega trial

A Delhi court Thursday reserved its order on a CBI plea to separate the trial of Swiss Timing Omega from that of other accused in a case relating to award of a Commonwealth Games-related contract to the MNC firm to install Timing, Scoring and Results (TSR) systems.

Special CBI judge Talwant Singh, after hearing arguments from prosecution and defence lawyers, reserved the order for November 3 on CBI's application on the issue.

"Put up the matter for pronouncement of order on November 3," the court said.

In its plea, the CBI told the court that it had already served summons to Swiss Timing in the manner prescribed under the treaty between the two countries but the firm was under the jurisdiction of the confederation of Switzerland.

The process would take time in bringing the MNC firm to the jurisdiction of this court, it said.

It also sought separation of Swiss Timing's trial on the ground that the process of bringing the firm before the court is time consuming and it was in the interest of other accused that their trial was not delayed.

"A proper channel is being followed in serving summons to Swiss Timing. Only in order of not delay the trial of other accused, this application is moved and we are pressing for it," CBI prosecutor said.

The Swiss firm, which had secured the contract allegedly due to the links of two Faridabad-based businessman PD Arya and AK Madan with sacked CWG OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi and which had later sub-contracted the work to the Faridabad entrepreneurs' firm Gem International, is one of the 11 accused in the case.

Opposing the CBI plea, the counsel for Organising Committee's former DG VK Verma, said the application was "not maintainable" as it was "premature".

"This application cannot be moved till the time the accused himself or through counsel appears before the court," he said.

Other defence lawyers also opposed the plea saying there was no legal provision under which CBI has sought separation of trial against the firm.

Meanwhile, the court extended till October 19 the judicial custody of Kalmadi and eight others arrested for their alleged role in the irregularities in awarding of the TSR contract to Swiss Timing.

Besides Kalmadi, it extended the judicial custody of former OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot, Verma and officials M Jaychandran, Surjit Lal and ASV Prasad, promoters of two construction companies - Anil Madan and PD Arya of Faridabad-based Gem International and AK Reddy of AKR Constructions - till October 19.