CWG scam: Special court accepts CBI's closure report in alleged corruption case

New Delhi: A special court has accepted CBI’s closure report in an alleged corruption case relating to the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) against several officials of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a private firm and its director. Accepting the closure report, Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Jain observed that evidence collected by the agency during its probe in the case lodged in 2012 did not establish the offences alleged against the persons named in the FIR. “Oral and documentary evidence collected (by CBI) during investigation do not establish the alleged offence against the accused persons. Accordingly, the closure report stands accepted,” the judge said. [caption id=“attachment_2725754” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] 2010 Commonwealth Games in India. GettyImages[/caption] The case was registerd by CBI against various officials of the CPWD, DDA, a private firm – M/s Shiv Naresh Sports Pvt Ltd – and one of its directors for the alleged offences under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) of IPC and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. In its FIR, CBI had alleged that these accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to cheat government over the construction of five synthetic athletic tracks at various sporting venues for the 2010 games. It was alleged that contract for these works was awarded for Rs 60.37 crore in favour of Shiv Naresh Sports Pvt Ltd at exorbitant rates by wrongfully justifying the rates, thereby causing undue pecuniary gain to contractor and corresponding wrongful loss to the government. The agency had also claimed that the joint tendering committee had wilfully moulded the eligibility criteria in the tenders to favour the company which did not have technical expertise and experience. After conducting the investigation, CBI filed a report in the court seeking closure of the case saying no evidence was found in the matter against any of the persons and the company named in the FIR. It said the allegations that eligibility criteria was moulded in favour of the firm was not substantiated during its probe and it was also found that the company had executed such works in the past.