CWG scam: Kalmadi’s bail plea rejected (Second Lead)

June 6th, 2011 - 9:11 pm ICT by IANS  

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Monday dismissed the bail application of former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chief Suresh Kalmadi, but allowed him to withdraw money from his personal bank account while in custody to meet his family’s expenses.

Rejecting Kalmadi’s bail plea, CBI Special Judge Talwant Singh said that the applicant was an influential person who could influence witnesses in the case.

“Gravity of the offence being of very serious nature of causing loss to government of India and unlawful gain to a private vendor to the tune of more than Rs.95 crore and the nature and character of evidence collected by the CBI, I am of the view that the accused is not entitled to bail at this stage and his bail application is dismissed,” the court said in its 42-page order.

The court also directed Tihar Jail authorities to allow Kalmadi to sign cheques from time to time to withdraw money.

It also dismissed the bail plea of former OC joint director general A.S.V. Prasad, co-accused in a corruption case related to the preparations for last year’s Commonwealth Games (CWG).

“Allegations against the accused are of serious nature,” the judge said.

The CBI May 20 filed its first charge sheet in the case against Kalmadi and 10 others, describing him as a prime accused and the mastermind in the corruption case related to financial irregularities in awarding a Rs.141 crore contract for timing, scoring and result (TSR) system for the October 2010 event.

The agency has also named two companies and eight persons, including former OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot and former director general V.K. Verma, as accused.

Kalmadi, Prasad and former OC director general (procurement) Surjit Lal were arrested April 26 and sent to Tihar Jail.

Lal’s bail plea will be heard Thursday.

Meanwhile, former OC treasurer M. Jayachandran, who surrendered June 4, filed his bail plea Monday. The court sent him to three days of police custody and said his bail application too will be heard Thursday.

Three others named in the charge sheet, including Anil Madan, P.D. Arya (both promoters of Faridabad-based Gem International Firm) and A.K. Reddy of Hyderabad-based AKR Constructions, are untraced and on the run.

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