CBI arrests close Kalmadi aides, Bhanot and Verma
24 Feb 2011
Two of Suresh Kalamadi's close associates, Lalit Bhanot and V K Verma have been arrested by the CBI.
Bhanot served as secretary general of the Organising Committee while Verma was the director general of the Games. Kalmadi was chairman of the committee till he was sacked four weeks ago.
Both Bhanot and Verma have been charged with intent to cheat and criminal conspiracy. They were questioned regarding a Rs107-crore contract awarded to a Swiss company for equipment used to keep time during different sports events in October 2010.
According to a CBI spokesperson, "It is alleged that the accused officers abused their official position and entered into criminal conspiracy with a Switzerland-based company and other unknown persons to cheat the government in awarding contract to the said company for acquiring Timing, Scoring and Result (TSR) System at exorbitant rates of Rs. 107 crore thereby causing huge loss to the government," a CBI spokesperson said.
It is said the developments today would finally lead to the arrest of Kalmadi himself. According to analysts, the investigating agency appears to be drawing closer to Kalamadi with several of his aides being raided, interrogated or arrested and in some cases all three actions have been taken.
The CBI has also raided Kalmadi's own homes and offices and at the end of January, he was sacked as chairman of the Organizing Committee by sports minister Ajay Maken.
The brazen expansive corruption under Kalamdi caused great embarrassment to the government with the opposition losing no time in adding the Games to the long list of scams it has cornered the government with.
