Have nothing to hide: Suresh Kalmadi

Zeenews Bureau

Guangzhou: Breaking his incommunicado status in China, beleaguered Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Wednesday told media that he was in no way hiding away from the country over the corruption charges in the mega-sporting event. “I will answer all questions satisfactorily on coming back to India,” Kalmadi told reporters on being asked on his dodging of questions after the CBI arrested his key aides TS Darbari, former Joint Director General and Sanjay Mahendroo, former Deputy Director General of the CWG OC. “I have nothing to hide,” he added confirming that the CWG probe committee will be headed by VK Shunglu. In the meanwhile, CBI has said the first case was registered under different Sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to the award of contract to London based AM car and Van Hire Ltd at exorbitant rates.The CBI has named Darbai, Mahendroo, OC Director Raj Singh, Director of transport firm Ashish Patel, and other unknown persons under sections 468 (forgery of court records and public documents), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. The second case involves London-based A M Films, Patel, Mahendroo, Darbari and others under sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. “It is alleged that the accused officials of the OC in conspiracy with the private firm awarded the work of installation of video screens at the venue of QBR at exorbitant rates. The work was awarded to the firm purportedly on the basis of fake quotations and without following standard procedure,” a CBI official said. He added, “The accused persons caused huge loss to the Government of India and corresponding wrongful gain to the accused firms.”Darbari and Mahendroo were suspended initially after reports of the scam started appearing in the media early this year. Both the officials were sacked later. Both have denied the allegations levelled against them. Both Darbari and Mahendroo are already facing charges of violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate as well.