CWG scam: Court's go-ahead to prosecute Kalmadi, others

New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) A Delhi court on Monday gave
the go ahead to prosecute sacked CWG OC chairman Suresh
Kalmadi and ten others for corruption, cheating, forgery and
criminal conspiracy for alleged irregularities in awarding of
TSR system contract to a Swiss firm, which has also been
summoned.
Taking note of the Central Bureau of Investigation
charge sheet filed against the seven-time MP Kalmadi, 67, and
ten others, including two companies, Special CBI judge Talwant
Singh said that there is sufficient material against the
accused to take cognisance of the charge sheet.
"I have taken cognisance of the charge sheet, the
statement of the witnesses and other documents filed along
with it. I am of the view that there is sufficient material to
take cognisance against all the accused persons," the court
said.
The court also directed that Swiss firm -- Swiss
Timing -- which was given the contract and is an accused in
the case, to appear before it through its official and issued
summons returnable by July 14.
"Summons be issued to its (Swiss Timing) CEO by
diplomatic channels through Ministry of External Affairs and
also by email, fax and international registry, returnable by
July 14," the judge said after noting that the company has not
joined the investigation despite notice being issued to it.
It also directed that Kalmadi, Commonwealth Games
Organising Committee Director General (Procurement) Surjit Lal
and Joint Director-General (Sports) A S V Prasad, who are
lodged in Tihar Jail, be produced in the court on Tuesday. The court also issued non-bailable warrant (NBW)
against OC treasurer M Jayachandran after the CBI submitted
that he is not co-operating in the investigation and has
stopped appearing before it after his role surfaced as an
accused in the case.
"I am satisfied that he (Jayachandran) has
intentionally stopped appearing before the CBI despite notices
to appear before the concerned Investigating Officer. It is a
fit case where NBW be issued against him," the judge said.
The court also declared promoters of two construction
companies -- Anil Madan, P D Arya (Faridabad-based Gem
International Firm) and A K Reddy (Hyderabad-based firm AKR
Constructions)--- as proclaimed offender after the CBI told
that they were intentionally absconding and avoiding the
judicial process.
The judge ordered that the proclamation be issued in
any two leading English and Hindi dailies in Delhi-NCR region
with respect to Anil Madan and P D Arya and in any two English
and Telugu dailies in Hyderabad for A K Reddy.
According to CBI, AKR Constructions was given a
sub-contract for TSR work by another sub-contractor, Gem
International, which itself was a sub-contractor for 'Swiss
Timing'.
Indicting Kalmadi and others, the CBI had in its first
chargesheet filed on May 20 said that Kalmadi is the man
behind the scam.
"Kalmadi is the main accused as he was the person with
all supreme powers. He had the supreme over riding powers in
the Organising Committee of the CWG, 2010," the investigating
agency said in charge sheet.