CWG scam: CBI raids Kalmadi’s houses in Delhi, Pune

NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday raided the residences of Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and his personal secretary Manoj Bhure in New Delhi and in Pune in connection with alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Games.

The raids began at about 7 a.m. this morning when ten CBI sleuths simultaneously entered both the premises.

The raids are being carried out in the wake of reports that some crucial documents related to Commonwealth Games deals have gone missing.

Probe agencies claim that these documents could have been destroyed or hidden.

Sources had said that the key files, which contain important information on tendering, budgetary allocation and contract details, are missing from the (OC) office.

Central Bureau of Investigation officials have reportedly found sufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy by unknown OC officials in tampering with some documents and manipulating information in them.

They have made a list of documents that are said to be untraceable.

Cabinet Secretary K. Chandrashekhar has been apprised about the need to move out Kalmadi and his deputy Lalit Bhanot from their OC posts as they were proving to be a roadblock in the investigations.

The agency has so far filed three cases in connection with alleged Commonwealth Games irregularities.

Games officials V K Verma and Lalit Bhanot are accused in these cases.

While one case is related to an Rs.107-crore deal struck with a Swiss score-keeping firm, the agency had registered two other cases in connection with the contract given to AM Films for the Baton Relay ceremonies in London.(ANI)