Feb 04, 2013, 12.57 PM IST

CWG: Charges against all accused, Kalmadi pleads not guilty

Over two years after the Commonwealth Games, a Delhi court is framed charges against sacked organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and nine others in the TSR scam first reported by CNN-IBN.

Source: IBNLive.com

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Over two years after the Commonwealth Games, a Delhi court is framed charges against sacked organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and nine others in the TSR scam first reported by CNN-IBN. Kalmadi pleaded not guilty in the court. All the accused in the case are out on bail.

The CBI had charged Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot, VK Verma and others with cheating, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that they were involved in illegally awarding the contract for timing and scoring for the games to Swiss Timing. This allegedly caused a loss of about Rs 90 crore to the exchequer. After framing of charges the trial will begin and the court will summon prosecution witnesses in the case.

CWG: Court to frame charges against Kalmadi & others

According to the CBI, the selection process for awarding the contract took around three years. Swiss Timing's first presentation was made one year after the publication of expression of interest. This was issued by Lalit Bhanot without the knowledge of Organising Committee's finance department.

Swiss Timing itself recorded Rs 18 crore as escalation cost due to delays. VK Verma then changed the eligibility criteria of the TSR deal without bringing it to the notice of OC executive board and Kalmadi ensured the committee formed to approve the TSR deal consisted of those who favoured Swiss Timing.

VK Gautam and Sujit Panigrahi were forced to resign from their positions in the OC as they opposed the choice of Swiss Timing. An overall loss of Rs 90 crore was incurred due to awarding the contract to Swiss Timing.