CLOSING CEREMONY ENDS-PROBE BEGINS

October 16th, 2010 by Ravi Matah | Posted in News   Comments Off on CLOSING CEREMONY ENDS-PROBE BEGINS
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I had brought out in my earlier blog on CWG that the day these games are over the deals done by members and the OC of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games will be probed.

Scintillating dances, laser show and a musical extravaganza on Thursday night marked the finale of the Commonwealth Games. The fourteen bands of the Indian Army gave a splendid display of music and their marching was excellently synchronised.

CWG Delhi 2010

CWG Delhi 2010

The fireworks outside and the sounds of music inside the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium had barely died down, when the Officials in the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Central Vigilance Commission began the assessment of the cases of corruption relating to the arrangements of the Commonwealth games.

India had stood second in the medals tally with a total of 101 medals in the Commonwealth ganes which their highest ever achieved. India’s gold medals tally stood at 38 medals which is the highest ever achieved by them and stood second behind Australia who have won a total of 177 medals.

A day after the Commonwealth Games came to an end Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met athletes at his residence on Friday. But Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and the Organising panel members had simply not been invited.  Sports Minister MS Gill was present, sitting beside the Prime Minister during the photo shoot.

A panel has been set up by the government to look into the corruption charges in the Games. Headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General, VK Shunglu, the panel will submit its report within three months to the Prime Minister. 

The government has drawn up a list of over 20 officials whose role in organising the games will be probed.

The Comptroller and Auditor General is looking into financial misappropriation; and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the routing of funds, which have been traced to tax havens like Mauritius.

The Central Bureau of Investigation will be examining tenders issued for various Games related projects, which are already under scrutiny after exposes on items being bought at absurdly inflated rates. 

The Central Vigilance Commission is looking into allegations of corruption in all infrastructure projects like the stadia and Games’ venues.

According to the interim report, international broadcast rights and sponsorship deals had been awarded by the Organising Committee in violation of basic procedure to consultants and companies that did not offer the best terms. That caused a loss of at least Rs. 20 crore.

The CAG is likely to submit its final report to the government by the end of January. The CAG audit will examine the cost of the Games and whether it justifies the quality of the material used in venues and equipment.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Friday said, “Success of Games is one side of the story but natural corollary will be followed. Government has already said this and Government will follow it up.”

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has made it clear that now that the Commonwealth Games are over, allegations of corruption will be probed on the specific orders of the Prime Minister.

She said that all those guilty of corruption must be punished as that is something the government owes to the people. “The Prime Minister has said it. Sonia Gandhi has said that corruption charges will be dealt with. We have enormous institutions in the Government. Corruption cannot get away,” she said.

Even @twitter is abug with tweeting these controversies and here is what tweeples are saying – RT @IamAshish: @gulpanag I have created petition @Cwgcorruption. Can you help spread the word? http://twitition.com/7yj92

India has seen the success of the Common Wealth Games and let’s hope these investigative reports bring out the fact about where did the wealth of the common man go?

Ravi Matah.

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