New Delhi:
Suresh Kalmadi, the man in charge of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi, has said that he is ready to face a judicial inquiry on the multiple allegations of financial irregularities surrounding the Games.
(Watch: CWG has become loot games, says CPM)Kalmadi is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games. With less than two months to go before the Games, evidence surfaces every day of how taxpayers' money was misused.
(Read: Kalmadi announces inquiry after allegations of forged documents)
NDTV reported on a scam that saw medical equipment for the Games being bought at several times its market value - the losses run into crores. The main challenge for Team Kalmadi has been, so far, to explain why a little-known UK-based company, AM Cars, was selected for a diaspora of services for the Queen's Baton Relay ceremony in London in October last year. Nearly 2 lakh pounds have been paid to the firm even though a contract or any other form of written agreement is missing.
(Read: CWG: UK firm AM Films dubious? NDTV accesses documents) At first, Kalmadi said the Indian High Commission had recommended AM Cars in an email. He brandished this email at a press conference. However, Foreign Minister SM Krishna has at a meeting with Kalmadi, furnished another copy of the email which does not make any reference to AM Firms, or its owner, Ashish Patel.
(Read: Who is Ashish Patel?)
The allegation - that Team Kalmadi doctored the email to make it seem like AM Cars had been vetted by the High Commission. Kalmadi has appointed a three-member committee to investigate that accusation. It will also scrutinize allegations of an irregular deal with Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) - an Australian company which has been hired to land sponsorships and ads for the 2010 Games.
In a statement sent to the press on Wednesday, Kalmadi says financial transactions by the Organizing Committee have been "transparent."
(Read: Kalmadi calls emergency meet)Read the entire statement below:60 days are left for the start of XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in New Delhi and 43 days for Games Village to open when about 8000 athletes and Officials from all continents of the world start arriving to participate in the Games.
During the last week, Media has come out with various stories regarding the irregularities in the orders / procurement etc. of QBR Launch Function at London / Overlays and association of M/S Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) in obtaining the Sponsorship for the games.
I have taken a serious note of these reports and appointed a three member committee headed by Mr. Jarnail Singh, the Chief Executive Officer and two members, Mr. G. C. Chaturvedi (IAS), Special Director General and Ms. Gurjot Kaur (IDAS) 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, 2010.
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 O. C. 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.
Thereafter, the proposals are submitted to the Executive Board for its final approval. Chairman O.C., in his individual capacity does not have any financial powers.
I, as Chairman of the Organising Committee, am prepared to face any scrutiny by CAG or even a judicial probe for all financial transactions being reported by the Media. And all those found guilty will be brought to book.
Suresh Kalmadi, MP
Chairman, OC CWG Delhi 2010
(Video Special: Corruption scandal hits CWG)