Simultaneously, the CBI also swung into action looking into separate complaints of corruption in the games projects. In another development, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) found discrepancies in tenders and alleged misappropriation amounting to about Rs 8,000 crore.
In the first case to be filed in the scam, the ED is proceeding against a few officials of the Games' Organising Committee(OC) for alleged FEMA violation as part of its probe into alleged corruption in the Games. The identity of the officials was not known.
The Income Tax department conducted searches in the premises of Mittal and some consortiums in and around Delhi and in Chandigarh and Ludhiana in connection with alleged financial irregularities in works related to the just concluded Games.
More than 200 officials of the I-T department searched about 30 premises of four business consortiums, with a foreign entity in each, to probe contracts worth more than Rs. 700 crore which were awarded to execute overlays and other works for the sporting extravaganza.
I-T department sources said the first consortium -- PICO international and Deepali Designs -- with Mittal as Director and his relatives as other stakeholders, has bagged contracts worth about Rs 230 crore.
Mittal, considered to be a close associate of former BJP president Rajnath Singh and late party leader Pramod Mahajan, had become a director in the company in February this year and the contracts were awarded after that, I-T sources said.
Sources in the department said the I-T probe will specifically look into the contracts awarded by the Games OC and the role of its officials and contractors including charges of bribing.
CBI studying complaints
Official sources said the CBI has also received 20 complaints regarding the Games which also include overlay works. A CBI team had even visited the OC office in New Delhi on Monday. "CBI is working in close coordination with the ED in connection with the case registered by the Directorate under FEMA," sources said.
He said the complaints received by the CBI also include those pertaining to CPWD works, which are being looked into. "CBI is awaiting for reports from the CVC, the CAG and the I-T department. The CAG has its own Central Technical Examiners and will do a financial audit. If something crops up, the CBI will move in," the sources said.
CVC exposes Rs 8,000-crore CWG scam
The Central Vigilance Commission, involved in probing the alleged corruption in various Commonwealth Games-related projects, has found discrepancies in tenders and alleged misappropriation amounting to about Rs 8,000 crore.
Official sources said the complaints received by the anti-corruption watchdog has already been forwarded to the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) of concerned ministries or departments.
They said the discrepancies like payment to non-existent parties, willful delay in execution of contracts, over-inflated price and bungling in purchase of equipment through tendering have been noticed.
"The total misappropriation amount may touch a figure of Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 crore, which is quite huge and alarming. The Commission is still awaiting reports from various departments and cannot give the exact amount involved in the bunglings," a senior CVC official said requesting anonymity.
In reply to an RTI application filed by PTI, the CVC has given details of projects executed by different government agencies where discrepancies have been detected.
Complaints regarding alleged embezzlement of Rs 1.5 crore in the purchase of HOVA Courts for Badminton stadium, malpractices in the tender for kitchen equipment installation, misappropriation in video board tenders for remodelling and upgradation of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium were received by the CVC and in all cases factual report is awaited from the Sports Ministry, it said.
Besides, the matter pertaining to appointments in OC and workforce consultants without adequate qualification and experience has been received and a report is awaited from the Sports ministry, the RTI reply said.
The CVC is probing at least 22 more Games-related construction and procurement works carried out by different government agencies here for alleged financial irregularities.
Out of the total projects, six were carried out by the Sports Ministry, four by the Delhi Development Authority, three by the Organising Committee and two each by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Central Public Works Department of the Delhi government.
One work each relating to Department of Commerce, Indian Meteorological Department and New Delhi Municipal Council is also being probed, the RTI reply said. The matter regarding alleged manipulation of tenders by Indian Meteorological Department and its senior officers is under investigation by the CVC, it said.
A complaint regarding alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for sound system, LED display boards and other communication systems for various Commonwealth Games stadia was also received and inspected by the CVC.
Though no amount was mentioned, the reply said CVC has noticed the national exchequer has incurred losses running into several crores of rupees. A report has been called for from the Central Public Works Department on September 8 and is still awaited, the Commission said while responding to the RTI query.
An analysis by Chief Technical Examination Wing of CVC had earlier found alleged financial and administrative irregularities in 16 construction and procurement projects. Six of them were done by the PWD, three by the MCD, two each by the CPWD, DDA, NDMC and one by RITES, a government of India enterprise, a CVC report said.
Official sources said a reminder has recently been issued to the CPWD, MCD, DDA and PWD asking them to submit their reports by this month. The move came after Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas objected to the "lackadaisical approach" and continuous delay by agencies in submitting replies to the queries raised by the anti-corruption watchdog, the sources said.
A senior Commission official said that based on their replies, the CVC will give its findings or final report to a committee formed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) V K Shunglu.
Source: Agencies
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