Prime Minister's Office suggests CBI, ED probe into CWG contract

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New Delhi, May 8 ): The Prime Minister's Office taking serious note of the Shunglu panel findings has suggested to the Sports Ministry a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged irregularities in the contracts executed by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
The PMO has in its letter asked for an investigation by the agencies specifically in works carried out by Event Knowledge Services (EKS), an international private consultant, and other irregularities pointed out by the Shunglu Committee.
According to reports, EKS was given three contracts of over Rs. 70 crore by the Organising Committee to extend consultancy services for the venue development and management, games workforce, and games planning and project management services.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had appointed the high-level committee on October 25, 2010, to investigate and report all irregularities in executing various projects by several government agencies during the 2010-sporting extravaganza.
In its report submitted to the PMO, the Shunglu panel blamed CWG Organising Committee and certain officials for delay in executing contracts for the games.
The Shunglu panel has also questioned "delays" in executing a number of contracts.
The panel headed by V.K.Shunglu had on January 31 submitted its first report on alleged irregularities in awarding broadcasting rights during the sporting extravaganza and recommended strict action against suspended Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharti B S Lalli and former Director General (Doordarshan) Aruna Sharma under relevant Sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act for their alleged act of omission and commission.
Both Lalli, a 1971-batch IAS officer, and Sharma (1982 batch IAS officer of MP cadre) are facing allegations of irregularities in the Rs.246 crore deal struck by public broadcasting body which included the controversial decision to give the contract for broadcast of the Games to a UK-based firm SIS Live.
The second and third report submitted by the Committee on the Games Village and the city's infrastructure has indicted Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejinder Khanna and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, among several others, for delays and losses in projects related to the 2010 Games.