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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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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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More arrests in the Commonwealth Games / Swiss Timing corruption case. Interpol has issued arrest warrants for the top two executives at Swiss Timing, but given the fact that they are Swiss and Roman Polanski has lived in Switzerland since the 70's with an outstanding Interpol warrant for rape, it seems doubtful they will spend any time in jail unless they try to leave the country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04...asia/26india.html?hp
"Federal agents arrested the official....on charges that he conspired to steer an inflated contract to a Swiss firm that provided timing equipment for the games, which were staged here in October. "
Interesting how The New York Times has started referring to Swiss Timing anonymously, as "A Swiss Firm". All the other newspapers covering the story refer to Swiss Timing by its name.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/spo...n-investigation.html
Also interesting is The Australian's account, "The [Swiss Timing] system was a shambles, and it fell to an Australian Company, Infostrada, to provide an emergency alternative means of transmitting the real-time information".
http://www.theaustralian.com.a...frg6so-1226044747798
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04...asia/26india.html?hp
"Federal agents arrested the official....on charges that he conspired to steer an inflated contract to a Swiss firm that provided timing equipment for the games, which were staged here in October. "
Interesting how The New York Times has started referring to Swiss Timing anonymously, as "A Swiss Firm". All the other newspapers covering the story refer to Swiss Timing by its name.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/spo...n-investigation.html
Also interesting is The Australian's account, "The [Swiss Timing] system was a shambles, and it fell to an Australian Company, Infostrada, to provide an emergency alternative means of transmitting the real-time information".
http://www.theaustralian.com.a...frg6so-1226044747798
On Monday, May 2, more details of the massive bribery and racketeering allegedly perpetrated by Swiss Timing / Omega in landing the TSR contract for India's Commonwealth Games were released to the press.
Two more arrest warrants were issued, adding to outstanding INTERPOL warrants already issued for the arrest of two executives from Swiss Timing. The two new warrants named executives of GEM, an Indian firm which allegedly conspired with Swiss Timing / Omega to bribe CQG officials and extort money.
http://economictimes.indiatime...icleshow/8137919.cms
Some key points of the indictments:
Swiss Timing / Omega's's quote for TSR was 3x that submitted by business competitor MSL, yet Swiss Timing / Omega's was the one accepted.
"It is alleged that officials of the OC conspired with representatives of the Swiss firm and the contract for TSR was awarded by wrongfully restricting and eliminating competition from other suppliers in a pre-meditated and planned manner"
"Investigation has also revealed that members of the tender evaluation committee were coerced and threatened to disqualify other bidders."
Two more arrest warrants were issued, adding to outstanding INTERPOL warrants already issued for the arrest of two executives from Swiss Timing. The two new warrants named executives of GEM, an Indian firm which allegedly conspired with Swiss Timing / Omega to bribe CQG officials and extort money.
http://economictimes.indiatime...icleshow/8137919.cms
Some key points of the indictments:
Swiss Timing / Omega's's quote for TSR was 3x that submitted by business competitor MSL, yet Swiss Timing / Omega's was the one accepted.
"It is alleged that officials of the OC conspired with representatives of the Swiss firm and the contract for TSR was awarded by wrongfully restricting and eliminating competition from other suppliers in a pre-meditated and planned manner"
"Investigation has also revealed that members of the tender evaluation committee were coerced and threatened to disqualify other bidders."
A formal indictment has been issued by the CBI against Swiss Timing for the crimes of Criminal Conspiracy and Forgery in conjunction with Omega's bid to provide timing & scoring to the Commonwealth Games.
This takes the prosecution of Swiss Timing for these alleged crimes to a new level, as up until May 20th, Swiss Timing was frantically issuing press releases with the standard denial "Swiss Timing has not been named in any criminal complaint".
Not so much, now.
http://www.timesnow.tv/CWG-sca...icleshow/4373813.cms
This takes the prosecution of Swiss Timing for these alleged crimes to a new level, as up until May 20th, Swiss Timing was frantically issuing press releases with the standard denial "Swiss Timing has not been named in any criminal complaint".
Not so much, now.
http://www.timesnow.tv/CWG-sca...icleshow/4373813.cms
Top executives from Swiss Timing appear to be stalling for time, having failed to answer summons issued for their arrest in the bribery and fraud charges brought against the company in connection with the Commonwealth Games.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/...-omega-trial_1598472 http://www.dnaindia.com/india/...-omega-trial_1598472
It seems, due to Swiss Timing's delaying tactics, prosecutors are attempting to split off Swiss Timing's alleged criminal activities into a separate trial so that they can immediately proceed with their prosecution of Swiss Timing's Indian subsidiary "GEM".
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/...-omega-trial_1598472 http://www.dnaindia.com/india/...-omega-trial_1598472
It seems, due to Swiss Timing's delaying tactics, prosecutors are attempting to split off Swiss Timing's alleged criminal activities into a separate trial so that they can immediately proceed with their prosecution of Swiss Timing's Indian subsidiary "GEM".
After stalling for 6 months, the Swiss Federal Police have finally gotten in synch with Interpol and the Indian FBI. They have issued summons to Swiss Timing in connection with fraud, conspiracy, and bribery charges filed against Swiss Timing over its role in the Commonwealth Games scandal.
http://articles.economictimes....ations-issue-summons
http://articles.economictimes....ations-issue-summons
http://articles.economictimes....ations-issue-summons
http://articles.economictimes....ations-issue-summons
Swiss Timing's swimming timing system under investigation/suspicion:
http://www.swimmingworldmagazi...news/World/30748.asp http://www.swimmingworldmagazi...news/World/30748.asp
http://www.swimmingworldmagazi...news/World/30748.asp http://www.swimmingworldmagazi...news/World/30748.asp