Three former CWG Organising Committee (OC) officials, accused in a case related to financial bungling during the 2009 Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) in London before the Games, had appeared before the city court in response to the summons issued against them.
A UK–based businessman, also an accused in the case, granted exemption from personal appearance for the day on health grounds.
Former CWG OC joint director-general T.S. Darbari, deputy director general Sanjay Mahendroo and treasurer M. Jaychandran appeared before special CBI Judge Talwant Singh.
Special CBI judge Talwant Singh, while allowing the application of UK-based businessman Ashish Patel for personal exemption for a day due to health problem, has supplied all the documents and the chargesheet copies to accused persons who had appeared in the court and fixed December 14 for scrutiny of documents.
Besides the four accused, two UK-based firms of Mr Patel — A.M. Car and Van Hire Ltd and A.M. Films — are also accused in this case. The former OC officials have been booked for the alleged irregularities in payments made to the A.M. Car and Van Hire Ltd for transportation services during the QBR.
Earlier on August 27, the trial court summoned all the accused in the corruption case after taking cognisance of the chargesheet field by the CBI by noting, “I have gone through the documents filed with the chargesheet. There is sufficient material to take cognisance of the offences mentioned in the chargesheet against the four accused persons and two companies.”
According to the chargesheet, the OC officials conspired with each other to award contracts for local transportation and other services to Mr Patel’s firm at exorbitant rates during the 2009 2009 Queen’s Baton Relay event held in London.
PTI
