New Delhi: Disgraced CWG OC chairman Suresh
Kalmadi, accused of irregularities in TSR scam, on Thursday tried to
shift the blame for award of the contract to OC CEO Jarnail
Singh insisting that he was aware of the contract and was
informed at all stages of decision.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, pressing for bail to
Kalmadi, told Special CBI Jugde Talwant Singh that the award
of TSR contract was always in the knowledge of Jarnail Singh
as the OC CEO but he has not been named in the charge sheet."
"It seems CBI has conspicuously chosen to protect certain
government officials," he submitted.
He also contended CBI had not obtained necessary sanction
to prosecute him. He said he was a person appointed by the
government and the cognizance of the charge sheet was taken in
the absence of sanction.
He also told the court that the charge sheet filed
against him was incomplete.
"CBI has filed the charge sheet without completing the
investigation and has not stated complete facts, which is a
cause of concern."
He also said CBI had submitted before the court that
its investigation into the case is on but yet filed a charge
sheet only to show the closure of the case.
CBI, however, vehemently opposed the contention saying
no sanction is required in cases of conspiracy, cheating and
forgery.
The public prosecutor said CBI specifically mentioned
in the charge sheet that its investigation into the case is on
and a supplementary charge sheet would be filed, if needed.
CBI opposed Kalmadi`s bail plea also on the ground
that "he is an influential person and there is evidence on
record that he had threatened a number of persons."
Meanwhile, counsel for former Joint Director-General
(Sports) A S V Prasad also pleaded for his bail saying he was
now not in office and, therefore, had no access to any
document or evidence.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on May
30 as the arguments on bail plea of OC Director General
(Procurement) Surjit Lal could not be taken up due to lack of
time.
The judge said the orders on bail pleas of all the
accused would be pronounced after completion of arguments for
all of them.
CBI had in its first charge sheet filed against Kalmadi
and ten others on May 20 described him as a main accused in
the corruption case to award the Rs 141 crore-contract to the
Swiss firm to install a Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) system for
the Commonwealth Games at an exorbitant cost, causing a loss
of over Rs 90 crore to the exchequer.
The court had given a go-ahead to prosecute all for
various offences, including those of criminal conspiracy under
Section 120(B), cheating (Section 420), forgery (Section 468
and 471) of Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption
Act.
While Kalmadi, Prasad and Lal were arrested on April 26,
Bhanot and Verma were arrested on February 23.
PTI
