CWG scam : Opposition to target Centre, Kalmadi in fresh controversy

CWG scam : Opposition to target Centre, Kalmadi in fresh controversy
Even as the Opposition aims to target the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in Parliament over issue of alleged financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games, fresh allegations have surfaced against Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi suggesting he was aware of payments made to controversial UK-based firm AM films and its sister concern AM Car and Van Hire.

In a report, the Times of India claims that it has procured enough evidence to prove that Kalmadi cleared payments due to AM films without a written contract or proper tender process.

The newspaper report alleges that more emails and faxed documents point Kalmadi’s involvement.

AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire reportedly received 247,000 pounds. Businessman Ashish Patel and Commonwealth Committee members, however, said that it was done for the 2009 Queen’s Baton ceremony.

“The report quotes an email dated October 24, 2009, on payments and with Kalmadi’s signature on it, saying “why so late…now there is no choice.” Publicly, Kalmadi claimed he didn’t know about the entire dealings with AM Films when the scandal first broke,” reports NDTV.

In his public statements, Kalmadi has fiegned ignorance and said there was no written contract with AM Films because things were done at the last minute, adding that the Indian High Commission in UK had recommended the Britain-based company.

The High Commission, however, has refuted making such a recommendation.