CBI arrests Darbari, Mahendroo on QBR muddle

The CBI on Monday stepped into the Commonwealth Games corruption muddle and arrested two sacked senior officials of the Games Organising Committee on charges of forgery and cheating relating to the Queen's Baton Relay in London last year.

CBI arrested T S Darbari, former Joint Director General and Sanjay Mahendroo, former Deputy Director General after it registered two cases in this regard and conducted searches at four premises including the OC headquarters here.

Both Darbari and Mahendroo are considered to be close associates of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

CBI said the first case was registered under different Sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to the award of contract to London based AM car and Van Hire Ltd at exorbitant rates.

The CBI has named Darbai, Mahendroo, OC Director Raj Singh, Director of transport firm Ashish Patel, and other unknown persons under sections 468 (forgery of court records and public documents), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

"It is alleged that the accused officials of OC in conspiracy with the transport firm and its Director awarded work to the said firm at exorbitant rates without following the standard tender process.

The work was awarded on the false premise that the firm was on the panel of Indian High Commission, London. Two emails were allegedly forged by the officials of OC to justify the selection of the firm," a CBI spokesperson said while reading out a statement by the agency before reporters.

The second case involves London-based A M Films, Patel, Mahendroo, Darbari and others under sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

"It is alleged that the accused officials of the OC in conspiracy with the private firm awarded the work of installation of video screens at the venue of QBR at exorbitant rates. The work was awarded to the firm purportedly on the basis of fake quotations and without following standard procedure," the CBI official said.

"The accused persons caused huge loss to the Government of India and corresponding wrongful gain to the accused firms," he added.

Darbari and Mahendroo were suspended initially after reports of the scam started appearing in the media early this year. Both the officials were sacked later. Both have denied the allegations levelled against them.