April 8, 2011
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today dismissed the bail plea of two former top officials of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding Rs 107 ($26 million) crore contract to a Swiss firm for the 2010 event.
Special Judge Talwant Singh dismissed the bail plea of OC's former Secretary-General Lalit Bhanot and its ex-Director General V K Verma.
"Bail applications of both the accused are dismissed," the judge said and also extended their judicial custody till April 21.
Bhanot and Verma were arrested on February 23 by CBI for striking a Rs 107 crore deal with a Swiss firm in procuring the Timing, Scoring and Result (TSR) System for the Commonwealth Games.
The CBI had told the court that they were among key personnel in CWG OC and were instrumental in allotment of contract for TSR System to Swiss Timing in a pre-planned and pre-mediated manner at an exorbitant rate of approximately Rs 107 crore, thereby causing a huge loss to the government. They are also alleged to have received bribes from Swiss Timing via sub-contracted companies working for the Swiss firm to assure the contract award.
CBI has registered a case against the two under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Switzerland-based firm Swiss Timing Ltd and other unnamed persons.
The investigating agency had earlier slapped three more charges of fraud, forgery and cheating on the duo and Swiss Timing.
In its FIR, the agency said in the Expression of Interest (EoI) for the award of contract, it was made out had that only the Swiss firm had met the laid down criteria.
Swiss Timing sub-contractors based in India, alleged to have issued fake invoices to facilitate the bribes to the OC, have disappeared after turning state evidence in the case and are being sought.
Swiss authorities have to date not responded to extradition requests for Swiss Timing Ltd. executives charged in the case, court authorities report. Swiss Timing has however agreed to cooperate with the investigation, strongly denying any wrongdoing.
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