Kalmadi says ready for probe into financial transactions, even as new scandals hit the mega-event.
To salvage the government’s reputation following the controversies surrounding the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to summon Sports Minister M S Gill within the next 48 hours.
The PM is also likely to seek a status report from Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar on the progress of various works connected with the Games.
Government managers have virtually ruled out the removal of Suresh Kalmadi from the chairmanship of the Organising Committee (OC) for a number of reasons: with just 60 days left to go, it would not be appropriate to have him missing from the scene. There is also a procedural problem: the OC is more like a non-government organisation that follows certain regulations to elect its members. It would be hard for the government to nullify the selection procedure and take the games over directly.
“When he has been questioned, Kalmadi has pointed out that he hasn’t signed any contract or document – he has set up sub committees which have taken all decisions. So removing him will serve no purpose at this pointing time” said a senior minister.
Every minister and manager that Business Standard spoke to echoed similar views: “We are in a mess and the sooner the games are finished the better it will be for everyone.”
A section of office bearers and ministers blame former sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for not allowing several projects to start on time during his tenure because of an ideological opposition to hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Kalmadi’s defence
Kalmadi today said he was ready to face any probe into financial transactions even as fresh scandals hit the mega-event.
Even as the three-member probe panel continued its investigations into the allegations, the Organising Committee found itself on a sticky wicket as it came to light that one of its key officials had asked the UK-based company to inflate the taxi hiring rates. Televisions channels produced an email purportedly written by Sanjay Mohindroo, OC’s Deputy Director General, who has now resigned, asking Ashish Patel, the owner of AM Films which is at the centre of controversy, to inflate the taxi hire rates. Patel, has however denied any wrongdoing.
The day unfolded with Kalmadi willing to face a CAG or judicial probe while the OC called a press conference later in the day to vehemently deny any irregularities in procuring overlays for the stadiums. “I, as Chairman of the Organising Committee, am prepared to face any scrutiny by CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) or even a judicial probe for all financial transactions being reported by the media. All the people found guilty will be punished and brought to book,” Kalmadi said in a statement.
Kalmadi’s statement came a day after more allegations of irregularities and the Indian High Commission’s e-mails being ‘doctored’ came to light.
The Congress party also distanced itself from Pune MP. Kalmadi reiterated that the all transactions were carried out by the full approval of the OC’s various finance committee and he did not have any individual say on these matters.
“The financial procedures at the Organising Committee are well laid down and transparent. Any proposal that is prepared by the Functional Area Head first gets vetted by the OC Finance Committee which has two representatives of Government of India, and after that it is referred to Finance Sub-Committee, comprising of three Senior representatives of Government of India,” he explained.
“Thereafter, the proposals are submitted to the Executive Board for its final approval. Chairman OC, in his individual capacity, does not have any financial powers,” he added. Kalmadi said, nonetheless, he has taken note of the various reported bungling.
“I have taken a serious note of these reports and appointed a three member committee headed by Jarnail Singh, the Chief Executive Officer and two members, G C Chaturvedi, special director-general and Gurjot Kaur, Chief Vigilance Officer of Organising Committee to look into all the details of QBR Launch Function, Overlays and SMAM issues. The Committee has been asked to submit its report by August 5,” the statement read.
