CWG scam: Kalmadi, Bhanot to be charged on 4 Feb

A Special CBI Court in Delhi today fixed 4 February for framing charges against Suresh Kalmadi and nine of his colleagues for alleged malpractices and corruption in the lead-up to the December 2011 Commonwealth Games.

The accused are said to have conspired to cheat the exchequer of over Rs90 core through graft in various games-related deals.

One of the major charges against the accused, including former organising committee secretary general Lalit Bhanot (who controversially still remains an office-bearer in the Indian Olympic Committee), relates to awarding a contract to install a timing, scoring and results system for the games to Swiss Timing at inflated rates.

Special CBI Judge Ravinder Kaur deferred the framing of charges, saying she needs more time to go through the entire records of the case before passing an order.

The special CBI judge took charge of this court on 2 January after the earlier judge, who had ordered framing of charges, was transferred. The case was fixed for today but has now been deferred.

The court had, on 21 December last year, passed the order on framing of charges under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act against Kalmadi and the others.