CWG scam: Manmohan Singh PMO passed the buck, says PAC

In the wake of the CAG report, the PAC has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to launch fresh probe into cases of alleged corruption that were closed by the agency.

New Delhi: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has finally adopted the `politically contentious` report on the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) slamming the Manmohan Singh PMO for "passing the buck" in respect of the then Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi's appointment as head of the organising committee and faulty supervision of the scam-hit Games.

According to The Times of India, the PAC rejected as "specious argument" the PMO's reply that non-circulation of minutes of the meeting of a group of ministers on January 14, 2005, under then PM Manmohan Singh was best explained by the Ministry of Sports.

While taking into consideration a two-year delay in generating monthly reports, the report said: “When it comes to directions of the PM (Manmohan Singh) pertaining to projects of utmost national importance, PMO instead of shifting responsibilities, should have ensured effective follow up.”

"PMO's submission that reasons can be best explained by the Sports Ministry is evasive at best," the report added.

"The committee abhors this culture of passing the buck and desires that the PMO/cabinet secretariat should rather lead by example and encourage a culture of pro-active disposition to work and take up responsibility," reported the daily.

In its 743-page report, the CAG had in 2011 said that the PMO recommended Kalmadi for Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CWG OC) chairmanship in 2004, despite serious objections from the then sports minister Sunil Dutt.

In the wake of the CAG report, the PAC has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to launch fresh probe into cases of alleged corruption that were closed by the agency. It directed the CBI to reopen investigation in six out of 33 cases the agency had filed, including some against Kalmadi and his close aides.