The Income Tax department today conducted searches at the premises of businessman and BJP activist Sudhanshu Mittal and some other contractors as part of its probe to unearth alleged tax evasion in works related to the Commonwealth Games.More than 200 sleuths of the I-T department swooped down on the premises of Mittal and his relatives as the department has found a number of contracts to the tune of more than Rs. 200 crore being bagged by them. Highly placed sources in the Income Tax Department said, the officials also visited organising committee office yesterday and also carried out searches at the offices of some broadcasters associated with the Games.In a related development the enforcement Directorate has asked organising committee to transfer some crucial files of the overseas deal related to the Games.The Group of Ministers on Commonwealth Games yesterday decided to extend the tenure of the officials of the Commonwealth Games organising committee. The decision comes after the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ordered an investigation into the corruption charges in the conduct of Commonwealth Games.The Comptroller and Auditor General, CAG, Vinod Rai said last evening that the audit will be completed in three months. He said that the CAG is keen to complete the audit at the earliest. Officials of Central Viglance Commission are also continuing their investigations into the Games related projects and looking into the account books and others dealings of the organising committee.The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has already set up the high level committee to probe the games related projects. The Committee headed by V.K. Shunglu has been asked to submit its report in three months.Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded JPC probe into the alleged bunglings in the Commonwealth Games related projects. Alleging large scale corruption and mismanagement of the Commonwealth Games projects, the party President wanted action against all those responsible for it.Addressing the media in New Delhi today, Mr Gadkari questioned the government on the escalation of the cost for the Games projects by 17 times, saying that this was approved by the Cabinet and the PMO. He also alleged Benami transactions through Hawala route and other financial misappropriations. He claimed that the funds meant for the schedules castes and the downtrodeen were diverted for the Games with the approval of the Cabinet sub committee and also raised questions about missing deadlines by different agencies.
News On AIR | October 19, 2010 2:19 PM
IT raids contractors & suppliers involved in CWG deals; BJP demands JPC