October 20, 2010 2:05 PM

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Probe into alleged irregularities in CWG projects gains momentum; ED, IT & CBI swing into action

The multi-pronged probe into alleged irregularities in organising the Common Wealth Games and projects related to it gained momentum with the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department and Central Bureau of Investigation swinging into action.In the first case to be filed in the scam, the Enforcement Directorate is proceeding against a few officials of the Games' Organising Committee for alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The identity of the officials was immediately not known.The Income Tax department conducted searches at the premises senior BJP leader and businessman Sudhanshu Mittal and some other contractors. More than 200 officials of the I-T department swooped down on about 30 premises in Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and some other places. I-T department sources said the first consortium– PICO international and Deepali Designs– with Mr Mittal as Director and his relatives as other stakeholders has bagged contracts worth about Rs. 230 crore.Official sources said, Central Bureau of Investigation has also received 20 complaints regarding the Games which also include overlay works. The sources said, CBI is working in close coordination with the ED in connection with the case registered by the Directorate under FEMA. The Central Vigilance Commission, CVC, has found discrepancies in tenders and alleged misappropriation amounting to about Rs. 8,000 crore.The Delhi Development Authority, DDA, has found various irregularities and deficiencies in the construction of Games village by private builder EMAAR-MGF. In a report to Union Urban Development Ministry on Tuesday, the DDA said that the builder has even exceeded the permissible limits of construction.Meanwhile, Government sources have denied the BJP charge that the Cabinet Sub Committee approved Rs. 70,000 crore for the Commonwealth Games related projects. The sources pointed out that the BJP document itself says that the Prime Minister's Office cleared Rs. 3,566 crore in 2007 and Rs. 9,865 crore in 2009.Earlier, BJP demanded a Joint Parliamentary probe into the alleged irregularities in the CWG related projects. Party President Nitin Gadkari urged the government to explain how the cost of the projects escalated by 17 times. He alleged that Prime Minister's office approved the funds.Rubbishing BJP's charges as diversionary tactics, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari alleged the BJP is feeling threatened because many of its leaders are now coming in the ambit of probe. He dismissed the charges of corruption against the PMO as baseless and it is for the government to take a decision on JPC probe.

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