C'Wealth Games deals were delayed purposefully: Agencies

There were glaring and inexplicable delays in awarding of catering and other contracts for the Commonwealth Games, central probe agencies have found.

In 95% of cases delays in contracts seemed “deliberate”. “Most of the contracts should have been finalised by 2006 and 2007. But that did not happen and decisions were taken only in 2010 when the situation had turned into a crisis,” an official attached with a probe agency told DNA.

It has also been found that the organising committee (OC) made a number of “illegal” appointments. A glaring case of a senior OC official, indicted by CBI in its Games’ probe, has attracted particularly strong remarks.

The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) also had last year, in its interim report, pointed out instances of undue favouritism shown to a number of contracted companies, including a London-based firm.

Most OC top officials, except former OC chief Suresh Kalmadi, have been arrested by CBI. The probe agency has so far registered four cases, including irregularities in Queens Baton Relay, Overlays and Swiss timer.