THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCAM

The Commonwealth Games scam outrage in 2011 which was perhaps one of the greatest scam of
all times known for corruption and mismanagement. It was believed that the Commonwealth
Games were held in New Delhi in 2010 which included huge mishandling and pilferage of cash
during preparation of the event. The absolute estimation of this scam was assessed to be Rs
70,000 crore. The main accused for the scam was Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the
Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games and his associates. A long list of corrupt
contracts took place during the preperation from CWG to overstated contracts. Even before the
opening of the event the the contracts were exposed and the people with power came in limelight
for dishonesty and fraudulent conduct. It was estimated that the amount assigned for the use on
sportsmen were about 70,000 crores from which only half of the amount was used on them
moreover the investigating reports claimed that Suresh Kalmadi came into a contract with
approximately Rs. 141 crores with Swiss Timing for the timing equipment and it was later
discovered that the deal was high by approximately Rs. 95 crores.Just before 10 days from the
event to begin the sportspersons and athletes were made to shift from the assigned exclusive
apartments to a low budget shabby apartment.
The Central Vigilance Commission, discovered the fraudulent and dishonest conduct of the
people in power and brought in notice the issues like the Lack of compatibility in tenders, hyped
prices, payments to non existing parties, delays in conduct and execution of contracts and
misappropriate funds kept for the event.
From the absolute starting point the occasion was covered in contentions, which persistently
surfaced have still not been completely settled. Concerns were raised during the preliminary
stage, with development work falling bogged down and volunteers stopping in huge numbers in
light of disappointment with their assignments and with the preparation program. Net
infringement of laborers' privileges were accounted for at building destinations, where laborers
were constrained into beggar.
The finish of the Games brought to the fore further issues, for example, the detailed ridiculing of
contracting rules by authorities of the Organizing Committee and the granting of work
agreements to clumsy offices at tremendously expanded prices. Toward the beginning it was
uncertain whether the Organizing Committee would be secured under the national Right to
Information (RTI) Act, as it didn't go under the domain of the meaning of 'state'. Such hazy areas
can make a feeling of resistance from rules, strategies and responsibility. Worries about the
administration of the undertaking were raised when the British income and customs office
(HMRC) brought up criticisms over a generous measure of cash moved to a UK organization,
AM Films.6 The potential errors surfaced in March 2010 when the Organizing Board of trustees
allegedly approached HMRC for a VAT discount on its installments to AM Films, accordingly
opening a Pandora's box.It was accounted for that AM Films guaranteed that the installments
were for vehicle employ administrations, toilets, hindrances and power, with the Organizing
Committee saying that they were for the buy of video gear, while HMR held that no
administrations had been obtained in accordance with an appropriate offering process.
A judgment from the Delhi High Court in January 2010 brought the entire extent of exercises
identified with the Commonwealth Games inside the ambit of the RTI, notwithstanding. The
High Court agreed with the government's case that the RTI laws were material to these exercises
because about all the financing for the Organizing Committee was given by the legislature and
that the board of trustees was not an autonomous body. This gave a fillip to different activists
and individuals from the media in their endeavors to uncover potential malpractice.An
exceptional panel drove by the previous representative and evaluator general of India, V. K.
Shunglu (the 'Shunglu Committee'), was set up by the administration on 25 October 2010 to test
the charges of debasement and fumble in sorting out the Commonwealth Games. Given the
goliath measure of open cash that was included, a few other analytical organizations, for
example, the Central Bureau of Examination (CBI), the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC),
the Directorate General of Income Tax Examination and the Enforcement Directorate,
additionally investigated the budgetary inconsistencies.
Process iand isystem ifailure
“Several iprominent iIndian ipoliticians iand isocial iactivists ihave istrongly icriticized ithe
iCommonwealth iGames ibecause imillions iof idollars ihave ibeen iinvested ion ithe isporting ievent
ieven ithough iIndia ihas ione iof ithe ihighest iconcentrations iof ipoor ipeople iin ithe iworld. iIn
iaddition, iIndian iinvestigative iagencies ihave iraised iseveral iother iissues irelated ito ithe i2010
iCommonwealth iGames.”

CWG ileads ito ifollowing ifailures-

“Irregularities irelated ito ivigilance iand iOver-invoicing- iOn i28 iJuly i2010, ithe iCentral
iVigilance iCommission, ian iIndian igovernment ibody imade ito iaddress iadministrative
idebasement, idischarged ia ireport ishowing ianomalies iin iup ito i14 iCWG iprojects, ialtogether
i129 iworks iin i71 iassociations ihave ibeen iinspected. iThe ipoint iby ipoint ifundamental
idiscoveries iincorporated ithe ihonor iof iwork icontracts iat imore isignificant iexpenses, ilow
iquality iaffirmation iand ithe iexecutives, iand iwork icontracts igranted ito iineligible iagencies.
iThere iare iadditionally icharges iof ifar ireaching idefilement iin idifferent iparts iof isorting iout ithe
igames iincluding iacquisition iand igranting icontracts ifor ibuilding ithe igame ivenues.”” i

“Delay iin ipreparation- iAll iCWG iventures iwere ito ibe ifinished iby iMay i2009 iand i2010 ihave
ibeen ikept ifor ipreliminary iruns. iThe imain iarena iwas igiven iover ifor ipreliminary iruns iin iJuly
i2010 ionly ito iplace ithe ideferrals iin icontext, iBeijing iNational iStadium iwas ifinished imuch iin
ifront iof icalendar ifor ithe i2008 iSummer iOlympics, iwhile ithe iscenes ifor i2012 iSummer
iOlympics iin iLondon iare iplanned ito ibe iconveyed ione iyear ibefore ithe igames iand ithe
idevelopment iof ithe isettings iis ion itrack. iIn iAugust i2010, ithe iCabinet iSecretariat itook ia
ichoice ito idesignate i10 iofficials iof ithe iposition iof iJoint iand iAdditional iSecretaries ito imanage
ithe iadvancement iof ithe idevelopment iof istadiums. iEach iofficial iis iapportioned ian iarena iand
igiven ithe iduty ito iguarantee ithat ithe iwork ifinishes iin itime ifor ithe igames.””

“Problem iof iinfrastructure iand ifunctionality iof iequipment- iOn ithe iprincipal inight iof
iswimming, idebris iarrived iin ithe ipool, icausing idelays iin ifront iof ia irace ibecause ipiece iof ithe
iroof ior iits ipaint ihad itumbled ioff. iPrior ito ithe imost irecent inight iof iswimming ifinals, ithe
ifiltration iframework iseparated, iand ithe ipool iwas iturbid iand icloudy iduring ithe iwarmup
isession iand ithe ifinals; iit iwas iportrayed ias ithe ileast iclear iat iany ipoint iseen ifor ia iswimming
ichallenge. iA ilopsided inumber iof iswimmers ibecame isick iwith iintestinal igrievances,
iprompting iworries iover ithe ineatness iand isanitation iof ithe ipool. iEarly idoubts ilaid ion ithe
inature iof iwater iin ithe ipools iof ithe iSPM iComplex, ihowever iother icontending igroups,
iincluding iSouth iAfrica, idetailed ino isuch iillness. iAfter ithe iopening iservice, ithe iground iat ithe
igames ifield iwas iharmed, iand ithe igrass iinfield iand ithe itrack iwere iall ithe iwhile ibeing ire-laid
itwo ihours ibefore irivalry ibegan.”

“Withdrawals- iVarious icompetitors ipulled iback ifrom ithe iGames, ifor ireasons irelated iand inon-
identified iwith ithe isituation iin ithe idays ipaving ithe iway ito ithe ioccasion. iJamaican iworld
irecord iholder iUsain iBolt iand ihis iforerunner iAsafa iPowell ipulled iout iof ithe ioccasion
ireferring ito ithe iplanning iof ithe iGames ias ia isignificant iexplanation ibehind itheir ichoices ito
iremain iaway. iOlympic icyclist ichampion iGeraint iThomas ipulled iout ibecause iof ia iparanoid
ifear iof icontracting idengue ifever. iOther iprominent icompetitors iwho ihave ireported itheir inon-
participation iincorporate iPaula iRadcliffe, iJessica iEnnis, iJennifer iMeadows, iNatasha iDanvers,
iChris iHoy, iBradley iWiggins, iVictoria iPendleton iand iBeth iTweddle

UNETHICAL iCONDUCT iOF iPEOPLE iINVOLVED:

The ione iof ithe ibiggest iscams iof iIndia iCommonwealth iGames iScam i2010. iThe imain iperson
ibehind ithe iscam iwas iSuresh iKalmadi, ibeing imain iaccused, ia irepresentative iof iCongress
th
iParty ito i15 iLok iSabha ifrom iPune iConstituency, iThe iChairman iof iOrganizing iCommittee iof
ithe iCommonwealth iGames. iHe iwas iinvolved iin ilots iof imanipulation iactivities iin
iunscrupulous iway, iit iwas isupposed ithat ihe ialso ihas itaken iunfairly ihuge iamount iof imoney iin
ithe iname iof iCommonwealth iGames. iHe iwas ialso iaccused iof iawarding iillegal icontracts ito
iSwiss iFirm ifor itiming iscoring iresult igames icausing iloss iof i95 iCr. ito iexchequer. iMr.
iKalmadi ialso ihad imis iappropriately iused ithe ifunds iof iCommonwealth iGames. iHe ihas ihired
iLondon ibased ifirm iAM iCars iand iVans iat iexorbitant iprices. iUnder iwhich iheavy ipayments
iwere imade ito iAM iCars iand ialso iAM iFilms iunreasonably ifor iinstalling ivideo iscreens iat
ivenue iof iQueen’s iBaton iRelay. i iThere iis ihuge ilist iof ipeople iincluding iPoliticians,
iBureaucrats, iand iBusinessmen, iother ithan ifrom ithese ipeople ivarious ibig icorporations iwere
ialso iinvolved iin ithis iscam. iAccording ito ifurther ireports iand iinvestigation iThe iChief iMinister
iof iDelhi iSheila iDikshit iwas icharged iin ivarious inumber iof ievidence iof ifrauds iand
iirregularities iin iprocess iof ithe ievent. iThe iother imain ipolitician ibehind ithe iscam iwas iRobert
iVadra, ithe ison-in-law iof iCongress iPresident, iMs. iSonia iGandhi.

Various iBureaucrats ilisted iunder iCommonwealth iScam iare iLalit iBhanot, iSecretary iGeneral iof
iOrganizing iCommittee, iT iS iDarbari, iJoint iDirector iOrganizing iCommittee, iSanjay
iMahindroo, iDeputy iDirector iGeneral iof iOrganizing iCommittee, iBS iLalli, iCEO iof iPrasar
iBharati iand iM iJayachandran, iJoint iDirector iGeneral iof iAccounts iand iFinance iDepartment.

Apart ifrom ithis iVarious iCorporations iwere ialso iinvolved iin ithe iScam iare iAM iFilms, iAM
iCars, iSIS iLiv, iMTNL iclaims ito iassign ithe iwork iof ibroadcast inetwork ibased ion iIP/MPLS
iTechnology iat iinflated iprices iof iRs. i570 iCrores iapprox. i iby imanipulating ithe ispecifications,
iHCL iInfosystems, ithese icorporations ihad ia ibig ihand iin ithis iscam ifor isetting iup ibroadcast
inetwork ifor igames iat iextremely ihigh irates inearly iRs. i400 iCrores. iSweka iPowerteck
iEngineers iPvt. iLtd. iMain iCorporation ibehind ithis iwas iJaypee iGroup ithat iclaimed ito ihave
iproceeds iof icorruption iby ibeing iin ifinancial iinvolvement iof iSuresh iKalmadi’s iSon iSumer
iKalmadi iin iCircuit iProject iF1 iat iGreater iNoida.

Businessmen ialso iplayed ia ihuge irole iin ithis ibiggest iScam, ifollowing ilisted iBusinessmen iare
iRSP iSinha, iMTNL iCMD, iand iSM iTalwar, iExecutive iDirector iof iMTNL, iN iK iJain, iGeneral
iManager iof iMTNL iin ithe iCorporate iSales, iJitendra iGarg, ithe iDeputy iGeneral iManager iof
iMTNL.

Impact iof iCommonwealth iGames iScam

There iwere imany inegative iimpacts iof iCWG iScam ion iIndia iwhich iincluded iSocio-economic
iimpact, iorganizational ifailure, iinfrastructure iissues iand iSporting icontroversies. iThis iscam
icreated ibad ireputation ifor iIndia inationally ias iwell ias iinternationally. iAfter iSpending iaround
i7000 icrores iin ithe ipreparation iof icommonwealth igames, iIndia iwas inot iable ito ilive iup ito ithe
iexpectations iof ithe icountry. iThe iScam iresulted iin ihuge ifinancial iloss ito ithe icountry ias ithere
iwere imany ifunds iinvested iin ithe idevelopment iof ithe ihost icity i– iNew iDelhi. iIn ia icountry
ilike iIndia iwhere ione iin ithree iIndians ilives ibelow ithe ipoverty iline iand i40% iof ithe ipeople iare
ihungry, isuch iexpenditure ion ihosting ia igame iwas iconsidered ias ia ifinancial iloss iby imany. i

In iApril i2007 ithe iIndian igovernment iwas icriticized iby iAiyar ifor isanctioning ibillions iof
idollars ifor ithe igames ieven ithough iIndia irequires imassive iinvestment iin isocial idevelopment
iprogram. iIndian ibusinessman iAzim iPremji icalled ithe i2010 iCommonwealth igames ia i“drain
ion ipublic ifunds”.

Nearly i400000 ipeople ifrom islum iareas ihad ito ishift itheir ihouse ibecause iof ithe igame. iGautam
iBahan, ian iIndian iurban iplanner isaid ithat icommonwealth igames ihave iresulted iin i“a
iprecedented iincrease iin ithe idegree, ifrequency iand iscale iof iindiscriminate ievictions iwithout
iproper iresettlement” iin ithe ilast i5 iyears. iMega-events, ilike ithe iOlympics iand iCommonwealth
iGames, iare iused ito iadvance inarrow iagendas iof iurban ireform ithat icater ito ithe imiddle iclass
iand irich ibut iit idoes inot ido iany igood ito ithe ilower iclass iof ithe icountry. iThe icity's islums iwere
ibulldozed iin iorder ito imake iroom ifor ishopping imalls iand iexpensive ireal iestate.

In iconstruction isites, imore ithan i70 iworkers idied iin iaccident ibecause iof ipoor imaterial iused
iand ino iproper iconstruction. iThe inewly ibuilt ishooting irange iat ithe iSiri iFort iarea icollapsed
iafter ione iheavy ishower. iThe ifoot iover ibridge iadjacent ito ithe imain ivenue iof ithe
iCommonwealth iGames icollapsed iwhile ibeing ierected, iinjuring i27 iworkers iwho iwere idumped
iinto ia itow iaway itruck ito ia imunicipal ihospital iand idished iout ia icompensation iof imeasly iRs
i50,000 i($1097) ifor ibroken iskulls iand imultiple ifractures. iThree iUgandan iofficials iwere
iinjured iby ia imalfunctioning isecurity ibarrier iat ithe igames' ivillage, iand ia isenior iofficial ifrom
ithat icountry iraised iallegations iof idiscrimination iby iIndian iofficials.There iwere iproblems iwith
ifunctionality iof iequipment iand iinfrastructure iduring ievents iand idebris iin iswimming ipool
iwere ifound idue ito iwhich idisproportionate inumber iof iswimmers ifell iill iwith iintestinal
icomplaints, ileading ito iconcerns iover ithe icleanliness iand isanitation iof ithe ipool. i i

The iCommonwealth iGames ivillage, ithe iplace iwhere iathletes ifrom iparticipating icountries
iwere iput iup iwas iinfested iwith idog ipoo, isnakes, iclogged itoilets, iand iunfinished iwork idue ito
iwhich iaround i10,000 iof ithe i22,000 iselected ivolunteers iquit, iless ithan ia iweek ibefore ithe
ievent. iThese ievents itarnished ithe iimage iof ithe icountry iin iterms iof ihygiene. iAfrican icountries
iplayers icomplained ithat ithey iwere igetting isecond-class itreatment ifrom ithe iGames iorganizers
iand ithe iaccommodation igiven ito ithem iwas iinferior icompared ito ithe iaccommodation iprovided
ito ithe iAustralian iand iNew iZealand iteams. i

India iwas iperceived ias imore icorrupt icountry iafter iCWG iscam iin i87th iout iof i178 icountries
isurveyed. iAnd iCommonwealth iGame iwas icriticized iby iseveral iprominent iIndian ipoliticians
iand isocial iactivists.

The iDaily iTelegraph iUK ishowed iphotographs itaken iof ichild ilabour iworking ion ithe iGames
isites. iThere iwere ialso imultiple icases iof iitems ibeing irented ifor ithe45 idays ifor imore imoney
ithan iit iwould icost ito iactually ibuy ithe iitem. iIn ione isuch icase, i72 igolf icarts iwere ihired ifor
i4.23 ilakh i(US$9,179.1) ieach, iwhen ithey icould ihave ibeen ipurchased ifor i1.84lakh
i(US$3,992.8) ieach. iWeeks ibefore ithe istart iof ithe iGames, iIndian imedia ioutlets ihighlighted
ithe ipoor iconstruction istandards iat iseveral iof ithe imain iGames ivenues. iIn ilate iSeptember
i2010, ithe ipresident iof ithe iCommon iwealth iGames iFederation iremarked ithat ithe iGames
iVillage iwere ifar ifrom icompletion iand ineeded ia i"deep iclean" iand iNew iZealand's ichef ide
imission ieven iclaimed ithat ithe iGames imight inot itake iplace igiven ithe iamount iof iwork ito ibe
idone. i i i

The iCentral iVigilance iCommission, iinvolved iin iprobing ithe ialleged icorruption iin ivarious
iCommonwealth iGames-related iprojects, ihas ifound idiscrepancies iin itenders i– ilike ipayment ito
inon-existent iparties, iwill-full idelays iin iexecution iof icontracts, iover-inflated iprice iand
ibungling iin ipurchase iof iequipment ithrough itendering i– iand imisappropriation iof ifunds.

In ithe istart iof ithe iGames ithere iwere iextremely ipoor iticket isales iwith imany ivenues inear
iempty. iIn ia ipress iconference, iorganising ichairman iSuresh iKalmadi, iadmitted ithat ithere iwere
iproblems, iand iblamed iempty ivenues ion iticket ibooths ifor inot ibeing iset iup ioutside istadiums.
iCommonwealth iGames ichief iMike iFennell iadmitted ithat imany ivenues ihad ibeen inearly
iempty ion ithe iopening iday iof ithe iGames, isaying i"A inumber iof ivenues ido inot ihave ilots iof
ispectators it ione iarea iwhich icauses ius iconcern". On ithe isecond iday iof icompetition, iless ithan
i

i100 ipeople ifilled ithe ihockey ivenue–the i19,000-seat iMDC iStadium. iLess ithan i20 ipeople
iwatched ithe ifirst itennis imatch iof ithe itournament iin ithe i5,000-seat itennis istadium, iand ijust i58
ifans iwatched ithe inetball iopening imatch.
 Conclusion
Nearly ithree iyears iafter ithe iconclusion iof iCommonwealth iGames ihere, ithe iscam-hit
iOrganising iCommittee iis icontesting itwo idozen ilegal icases iinvolving ia irevenue iof iabout iRs
i350 icrore iagainst iprivate icompanies iwhich iexecuted iprojects irelated ito ithe imega-sporting
ievent.

The icases, ifiled iin ivarious icourts ihere iand ioutside iDelhi, irelates ito idispute iin ifinance,
iworkforce, icatering, imerchandising, icleaning iand iwaste imanagement, itechnology iand iother
ifunctional iareas.

The iGames ispawned ia imaze iof icorrupt ideals, imost iof ithem iinvolving iinflated icontracts.
iInstead iof iselecting icompanies iwho ioffered ithe ibest iprices, iequipment iand iservices iwere
ihired ifrom ifirms iwho iover-quoted. iOften, icompanies iwho ioffered ibetter ideals iwere
idisqualified ifor iinexplicable ireasons. iInvestigations isuggest ithe iOrganizing iCommittee iran ias
ia isort iof i'badmaash icompany' i- imany iof iMr iKalmadi's iclosest iaides ilike iLalit iBhanot iand iV
iK iVerma iwere ialso iarrested. iHe iwas iaccused iof ihanding iout ia iRs i141-crore icontract ito
iSwiss iTiming ifor iits itiming iequipment i- ithe ideal iwas iinflated iby iRs i95 icrores. iAn iofficial
irecommended ithe idisqualification iof ia iSwedish icompany, iallegedly iat iMr iKalmadi's ibehest,
ileaving ionly ithe iSwiss ifirm iin ithe ifray. iThe iCentral iBureau iof iInvestigation, iwhich iprobed
ithe icase, ifiled ia ichargesheet iagainst iKalmadi iin iMay i2011. i iLess ithan i10 idays ibefore
iathletes iwere ito imove iinto ithe ivillage ibuilt iespecially ifor ithem inear ithe ibanks iof ithe
iYamuna iin iDelhi, iforeign icrews iwere iinvited ito itour ithe iapartments ithat iwould ihouse
idelegates. i iIt iwas ian iunforgettable iopen ihouse. i iThere iwere idog ipaw imarks ion ibedsheets. i
iHuman iwaste iwas ilying ion ibathroom ifloors, ileft ibehind iby iconstruction iworkers. i
iInternational iheadlines ireported ion ievery ihumiliating idetail. iWith ithe iGames iskidding iinto
icatastrophic iturf, ithe iCommonwealth iinternational ibody i- inamed iCommonwealth iGames
iFederation i- ipublicly istated iits iunhappiness iwith ithe ipreps. i

Kalmadi, ias ithe iIndian iOlympic iAssociation, isigned ian iagreement ito ibring ithe iFormula iOne
iGrand iPrix ito iIndia iin i2007. iLater ithat iyear, ithe iUK-based iorganizers iFormula iOne
iAdministration iLimited isigned ia iRs i1600-crore icontract iin ithis iregard iwith iIndia-based iJPSK
iSports iPrivate iLimited. iRecords iobtained iby iThe iIndian iExpress ishowed ithat iPune-based
iSulba iRealty iPrivate iLimited iwas ia i13% ishareholder iin iJPSK, ialong iwith iJaypee iGroup
i(74%). iKalmadi's ison iSumeer iwas ia idirector iin iSulba iRealty iat ithe itime, iwhich iwould ihave
iimplied ia iconflict iof iinterest. iWhile ithe iJP iin iJPSK istood ifor iJaypee iGroup, iit iwas ialleged
ithat ithe iSK iwas ia ireference ito iSuresh/Sumeer iKalmadi. iRecords ifrom ithe iRegistrar iof
iCompanies, iIndia ishowed ithat ia iyear iafter ithe icompany iwas ifloated, iKalmadi's idaughter,
iPayal iAditya iBhartia, iand ihis ison-in-law, iAditya iBhartia, ijoined iJPSK ias iindependent
idirectors.

Kalmadi's imembership iof ithe iIndian iNational iCongress iParty iwas isuspended iafter ibeing
iarrested iand icharged iwith icorruption. iOn i26 iApril i2011 ihe iwas isacked ifrom ithe ipost iof
ipresident iof ithe iIndian iOlympic iAssociation. iOn i1 iJuly i2013 ihe ilost ithe ielection ifor ithe ipost
iof iPresident iof ithe iAsian iAthletics iAssociation, ia ipost iwhich ihe ihad iheld ifor i13 iconsecutive
iyears, ilosing ito iQatar's iDahlan iJumaan iAl-Hamad. i
Suresh iKalmadi iwas iin ijail ifor i10 imonths iand ithe icourt iasked ihim ito ipay ia isurety iamount iof
iRs. i500,000. iKalmadi iwas iallowed iby ia iDelhi icourt ion i13 iJuly i2012 ito igo ito iLondon ifor
i2012 iOlympics. iHe iwas, ihowever, irestrained ion i25 iJuly i2012 iby ithe iDelhi iHigh icourt ifrom
iparticipating iin ithe iopening iceremony iof ithe iLondon iOlympics, isaying ihis iparticipation ican
icause i"embarrassment" ito ithe ination. i

He iclaimed ito ibe isuffering ifrom idementia iduring icourse iof iinvestigation iwhile iin iTihar ijail.
[23]
iMedical itests iwere inot iconclusive ito ibe iable ito iprove ihis iclaim.

India ialready iseems ito ihave ilost ithe iCommonwealth iGames ieven ibefore ithe ifirst iswimmer
ihas isplashed iinto ithe iDr iSPM iAquatic iComplex, ithe ifirst iarcher ilet iloose ihis ibolt iat ithe
iYamuna iSports iComplex, ithe ifirst isprinter ibegun ihis irace iat ithe iChhatrasal iStadium. iIndia
ihas ilost ithousands iof icrores iof ithe itaxpayers' imoney ito ishady ideals iand ithe icorrupt inexus iof
iofficials iand ioutside iagencies iwho iwere iable ito ipirate iaway ilarge ichunks ioff ithe iRs i11,494-
crore iCommonwealth iGames i(CWG) ibudget.
Kalmadi iis iplaying ithe istone iwalling igame ieven ias iDelhi iChief iMinister iSheila iDikshit ilooks
ithe iother iway.

India ihas ilost iits icredibility ias ia isporting idestination iwith iforged ie-mails ibecoming ipublic
iexcuses ifor igraft iand iministers ishrugging ioff iresponsibility iwith ithe iease iwater isloughs ioff
iace iswimmer iRehan iPoncha's iback. iIndia ihas ilost iits iability ito iassure isportspeople ithat itheir
isafety iwill inot ibe icompromised iwith ileaking iroofs iand icollapsing iwalls iin istadiums; iit
icannot icomfort ibadminton ichamp iSaina iNehwal ithat iher ifeet iwill inot islip iduring iher iserve
ibecause iof iflooded icourts ior ipromise ishooting istar iAbhinav iBindra ithat ihis ishot iwill inot igo
iawry ion ia irange iwhich imay ibe iwashed iaway iunder ihis ifeet.
In ithe imidst iof ithis imacabre itheatre, iIndia's iDon iCorleone iof isports, iSuresh iKallu i

Kalmadi, istands ilike ithe ibewildered ihero iof ia iGreek itragedy, ihis ibeard iuncombed iand ihair
iflying iin ithe iwind, iclaiming ithat iall iis inot ilost.
The icorruption inow icoming iunder ithe ifloodlights ireveals ia ishocking istory iof icollusion; ie-
mails isent iby ia ihigh iranking iorganising icommittee i(OC) imember ito iinflate itaxi ibills, ifake
icertificates iissued iby iauthorities ito ipass isteel iso idubious ithat ithe ianti-corrosive icame ioff
iwhen irubbed iby ihand, ielectrical ifittings icleared ieven iwithout itesting. i

Organised iCrime

Indications ithat ithe iGames iwould ibe iover isoon icame iwhen ia iconfidential ie-mail ifrom iCWG
iDeputy iDirector-General iDr iSanjay iMohindroo iwas ileaked, iin iwhich ihe ihad iasked iAM iCar
iand iVan iRental ifor iinflated itaxi irates ifor iservices iprovided iduring ithe iQueen's iBaton
ifunction iheld iin iOctober i2009 iin iLondon.
s iaide iDarbari ihas ireason ito ismile idespite ithe isports iministry iasking ifor ihis ihead.
The imail ireads, i"When iquoting ifor ithe ibranded itaxis iyou ishall iquote iRs i1,550 iper imonth ifor
ione imonth iof ibranding, iRs i500 ifor iinstalling iand iuninstalling iand iRs i450 iper iday ifor iusage."
iBy ithen, iscandals iwere ileaking ilike ithe istadiums. iReports iof icustoms iviolations iby iOC iJoint
iDirector-General iT.S. iDarbari iprompted iofficial irequests ifor iKalmadi iconsiglieres iMohindroo
iand iDarbari ito ibe isacked. iDarbari iis istill ithe iOC's irevenue iboss iwhile iMohindroo iheaded
imarketing ibefore ihis iexit.
Mosquito irepellent, iemergency ilights i(which iindicates ithat ithe ipower isituation iduring iCWG
iis ialso isuspect), isteppers iand idustbins, iare ipriced iway iabove ithe imarket iprice. iFour ihundred
iitems iappear iin ithe i10-page ifactsheet; ihigh-altitude itraining isimulators ihired ifor iRs i1.16
icrore ieach iat i20 itimes ithe ipurchase iprice iand ia icorporate iumbrella ihired ifor iRs i6,308. iThe
ibudget ifor ithe ioverlays iis ia inumbing iRs i650 icrore.

The iOC iexplains ithat i10 ivendors iparticipated iin ithe ibidding iand ithe iwinners iwere
iunanimously iapproved iby ithe ifinance isub-committee. iTreadmills iworth iRs i1 ilakh iwere ihired
ifor iRs i9 ilakh iand ia itwo-tonne iac icosting iRs i70,827 iwas irented ifor iRs i1.87 ilakh. iDiesel iis
ibudgeted ifor iRs i80 ia ilitre.
But iOC iGeneral iSecretary iLalit iBhanot isaid ithe inumbers iwere iincorrectly iquoted; ifor
iexample, i"Rs i3,750 iwas ispent ion i100 itoilet ipaper irolls iand inot ione," ihe isays. iBut ieven ithe
iliquid isoap idispensers ibought ifor iRs i3,397 ieach icannot iwash ithe imuck ifrom ithe ihands iof ithe
iOC.
Nepotism iis irampant iin ithe iOC; ithe icontract ifor itennis icourts isurfaces iwas iawarded ito ithe
ison iof iGames iOC iTreasurer iAnil iKhanna, iAditya. iKhanna iquit ion iAugust i5. iThe ismam ideal
iwith ithe iOC, itoo, ihas iraised ieyebrows; ithe icompany ialready itainted iby iIPLgate ifor ibilling
iRs i380 icrore ias ifacilitation ifee iis isupposed ito ibe ipaid iRs i45 icrore ias icommissions ifor
isponsorships inot iobtained.

A iTeam iEffort

But iKalmadi iand ithe iOC iare inot ithe ionly iones ito ibe iheld ianswerable ifor ithe iblatant iloot iof
ipublic imoney. iDelhi iChief iMinister iSheila iDikshit, iLieutenant iGovernor iTejindra iKhanna
iand ithe ichief isecretary, iwho ioversees iand iensures itheir iimplementation, iare ipart iof ithe
iaccountability imatrix. iAbove iall iis ithe isovereign iGovernment iof iIndia i(GOI)-represented iby
iSports iMinister iM.S. iGill, iUrban iDevelopment iMinister iJaipal iReddy iand iTourism iMinister
iKumari iSelja-which iis iresponsible ifor iall iapex ibody idecisions. iAdd ito ithis ia iplethora iof
iacronyms ilike ithe iSAI, iDDA, iNDMC, iGNCTD, iDU, iCRPL, iCPWD, iMCD, iPWD; iand ithe
igang iis icomplete.
As iOctober idraws icloser, iDelhi iis iturning iinto ia iwar izone iwith itorn-up iroads, icollapsing
iflyovers iand ithe idebris iof iconstruction ieverywhere. iDikshit ihas ionly iurged ispeedier iwork. iAs
iper ithe iDelhi iUrban iArt iCommission i(DUAC) irecords, i"The idelays iwere igenerally ion
iaccount iof ithe ireluctance iof ithe iproponent ito icomply iwith iobservations imade iby iDUAC."
iDelays iseemed ito ibe ia ideliberate istrategy ion ithe iofficials' ipart ito iinflate icosts ias ifait
iaccompli. iBut ithe iGovernment iis iempowered ito ioverrule ithe iDUAC. i"It iis ifor ithe iGOI ito
itake iquick iand ispeedy idecisions iin isuch icases," ithe iCentral iVigilance iCommission i(CVC)
icensured.
The iCVC ireport ialso inotes ithat ithe iMinistry iof iYouth iand iSports iasked iKalmadi inot ito
iinterfere iin ithe iopening iand iclosing iceremonies ibut ithe iOC iignored iit iuntil ian iuneasy itruce
iwas icalled. iMuch ilater, iit iwas irevealed ithat iKalmadi's iCaesar-like ivision iof ithe iCWG imeant
iblowing iRs i150 icrore ion ithe iceremonies. iThe iheight iof iextravagance iis ia iRs i40-crore ihelium
iballoon icomplete iwith ilights iand icameras ithat ihas ibeen icontracted ito iItalian ientertainment
icompany iK-Events, iwhich ihas iorganised isimilar ievents iin ithe i2006 iTurin iWinter iOlympics
ias iwell.

Spreading ithe iCheer

The icurious icase iof iforeign iconsultants iis ione ithat ibegs ia iquestion. iThe iCommonwealth
iGames iFederation i(CGF) ihad iwanted imore iand imore ioverseas iconsultants ito ibe ihired ibut
iKalmadi iwas icategorical ithat ionly iin iareas iwhere iIndians ilacked iexpertise iwould ioutsiders ibe
itaken. iYet iinexplicably ithe iOC igave iin, ihiring imore ithan i50 iforeign iconsultants ifor ilegal
iissues, iticketing iand iceremonies, ipaying ithem i200 ito i500 iper icent ihigher ithan itheir iIndian
icounterparts. iThe iOC ialso ifoots ithe iCWG isalary ibill iof iRs i300 icrore.