CAG indicts PMO, Sheila; points to ’huge bungling’

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi, 05 August 2011: Pointing a direct finger towards the involvement of Prime Minister’s Office in the Commonwealth Games scam probe, the Controller and Accounting General of India, Vinod Rai on Friday said the Suresh Kalmadi was appointed the chairman of the CWG Organising Committee on PMO’s recommendation. 

 

Speaking at a press conference after the tabling of its report on CWG scam in the Parliament, CAG said, “Suresh Kalmadi was appointed CWG OC Chairman on PMO recommendation of December 2004 despite objections from then Sports Minister.” 

 

CAG also said that Kalmadi worked in a near-autocratic manner, like a parallel government, without any accountability to the state and overwhelmingly controlled the Organising Committee.

 

Speaking at the press conference, deputy CAG Rekha Gupta said, “Despite success of the Games because of an excellent performance by the athletes, the controversies marred Commonwealth Games.” 

 

She further stated, “Instances of favouritism, bias, largely guided by OC were found in selecting surfaces for athletic tracks, hockey turf, badminton courts.” 

“The CAG report also reveals that the streetscaping project carried out by Delhi govt was ill-conceived, ill-planned; caused wasteful expenditure of Rs 101 crore”, Gupta said. 

 

Implying towards economic bungling in high value contracts, she said, “Serious irregularities found in award of contract for construction of CWG residential complex to Emaar MGF.” 

 

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister is still tight-lipped and refused to comment on the CAG report and stated, "We have not done anything wrong. Everything was done keeping in mind the national interest and prestige. We were entrusted with certain responsibilities and we delivered them."

 

Regarding the report, deputy CAG informed that the body had audited 33 entities in all and it took 90 days to finish it. The report also said that there were clear indications of unqualified vendors being favoured, case in point being Swiss Timing Omega on the basis of a single bid. The report points towards almost every aspect of CWG like the time-score contract, venue catering contract, overlay planning and rates, Prasar Bharti agreement, revenue projections and appointment of Ernst & Young among others. 

 

The findings by the federal auditor have embarrassed the ruling party - Congress - and there are speculations that the party may ask Delhi Chief Minister to step down. This will give Congress a moral high ground against the main opposition BJP, which recently forced its corruption-tainted Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to quit in Karnataka. 

 

CBI may use CAG report to file cases: 

Meanwhile, there are reports that the CBI may also register cases based on the findings of the CAG’s report on ’irregularities’ committed by the Delhi government in CWG projects. 

 

Sources claim that the central probe agency is likely to investigate the criminality and other aspects of irregularities involved in the projects audited by CAG and start registering cases. 

 

Earlier this year, the CBI registered several cases in CWG projects carried out by Delhi-based agencies including MCD, PWD, DDA, NDMC and others. 

 

"We are waiting for the CAG report to be tabled in (the) Parliament after which we will begin scanning all documents related to the projects. If criminality is found, cases would be registered immediately," a top CBI official was quoted as saying.