Former CAG Shunglu to probe CWG imbroglio

NEW DELHI - Acting on its assurance that complaints of irregularities in the preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games would be probed, the government Friday named a high-level committee headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General V.K. Shunglu to examine all matters related to the conduct of the mega event that concluded Thursday.

Official sources said the committee will present its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh within three months.

They said that the committee will look into all matters relating to the organisation and conduct of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games “to draw lessons from it”.

The terms of reference of the committee will be announced soon, the sources added.

Congress spokesman Manish Tewari earlier Friday said that government agencies would look into allegations of misappropriation of funds in the preparations for the Games.

“Obviously as public money was spent, there is a natural audit process that kicks in when government money is spent. I expect the government bodies will deliver on their mandate,” Congress spokesperson Tewari said, answering queries about the charges of corruption and delays in the run-up to the Games.

Asked if the Congress was giving a clean chit to Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, Tewari said the party was not in the business of giving “clean or unclean chits”.

“If there is any alleged misappropriation in spending of funds, that obviously needs to be probed. That was and is our stand…If there were any allegations of money not properly spent, they (government agencies) will perform responsibility to the country’s satisfaction,” he said.

He said if there were any cost or time over-runs, “only audit will reveal the details”.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday mounted an attack over alleged irregularities in the Games preparation, saying the government should take serious congnisance of the corruption allegations.

Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar said Kalmadi was booed during the closing ceremony while players and artists were loudly cheered.

“The people had given their verdict. They are angry over the corruption in the Games,” he said.

The prime minister had held a high-level review meeting in August following complaints of irregularities and delays in preparations for the Games. He had then directed the concerned ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities and said that those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment.