CWG scam: CAG gives more ammunition to CBI

The Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government’s worries could increase as the CAG’s report on the Commonwealth Games scam has added fresh impetus to the CBI’s investigations.

So far the CBI was looking at the cases that involved projects that were under the Suresh Kalmadi-led CWG organising committee (OC).

“Our officers are examining the findings of the CAG report and we are likely to register around eight more cases in the CWG scam that involves financial irregularities in projects that were conducted under the Delhi government. In some instances, we have already initiated our probe by registering preliminary enquiries,” a senior CBI official told ‘DNA’. So far, the agency has registered 12 separate cases in Games irregularities.

“Our officers are examining the CAG’s findings and if we any criminality and irregularity involved in the projects are found, a regular case will be registered,” the official added.

While most of the key officials of the OC are currently lodged in the Tihar Jail, the investigation agency is now looking at all works related to construction and infrastructure carried out by civic agencies that come under the Delhi government and Union urban development ministry.

Union petroleum minister S Jaipal reddy was heading the ministry during the run up to the Games.

CBI sources said the Central Vigilance Commission’s recently-concluded inquiry found instances of financial irregularities in several infrastructure projects.

The CVC’s chief technical examiners have identified at least three cases where large-scale financial and administrative irregularities have occurred. The CVC carried out its inquiry in nearly 40 Games-related projects.

Last week, the CBI officials investigating the CWG scam met with CVC officials and discussed their findings. The CBI comes under the CVC’s supervision in investigations and can be directed by the vigilance commission to register cases based on its findings.

However, Sheila Dikshit, whose government has been indicted by the CAG for irregularities and over spending, refused to comment on the report. Dikshit said she would comment on the report only after going through it properly.

“How can I comment? We will have to read the report. Let me go through it,” a TV channel quoted Dikshit, as saying after the report was tabled in parliament.The CAG report said “the decision to use imported luminaries on selected ‘A’ category of roads (in Delhi) was not based on technical parameters, but was taken with the active involvement of the chief minister; this resulted in avoidable expenditure of more than Rs30 crore.”

Immediately, the BJP demanded Dikshit’s resignation. “The CAG report and the report of VK Shunglu committee concur. Shunglu said there is a method in the madness. This scam is not possible without the consent of the higher-ups…. We demand that Dikshit should resign forthwith,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Responding to the BJP demands and defending Dikshit, the Congress said the report was itself not a ground for her to resign.

“The report has no finality attached to it as far as indictment of the chief minister (is concerned). This report has been extensively commented upon by the chief minister. Let the two views come out in the open,” Union minister Ashwani Kumar said.