Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi and 15 others, including Games federation chief Michael Fennel and federation CEO Mike Hooper, were issued notice by Delhi High Court Tuesday on a petition by an OC official suspended for alleged corruption.
Petitioner M. Jayachandran, joint director-general of OC, moved court seeking his reinstatement and Rs.5 crore damages for defamation.

Jayachandran alleged that his suspension by the OC Aug 5 along with other officials T.S. Darbari and Sanjay Mahindroo was illegal.

“I have no role in hiring the companies (A.M. Cars, Van Hire and A.M. Films) during the (Queens’ Baton) relay and have only followed the instructions and did the process for the release of payments after due sanction,” he said.

Justice Sunil Gaur asked the OC to preserve all the documents and evidence pertaining to the petitioner’s suspension. The next date of hearing is Jan 4, 2011.

The petition dubbed the OC decision to suspend Jayachandran illegal and demanded that he be reinstated as joint director-general.

He also filed a defamation suit against demanding Rs.5 crore damages.

Jayachandran was also the treasurer and officer on special duty for revenue and sponsorship in the OC.

He was accused of irregularities in the Queen’s Baton Relay in London. Jayachandran was accused of approving funds for firm involved in the arrangements.

“I was never told of any charges of irregularities against me, nor was given an opportunity to explain. An internal committee set up by the OC to look into the allegations did not give me a chance to present my side,” he said in the petition.

“The actions of the OC violated the principles of natural justice and therefore illegal, arbitrary, bad in law and are liable to be declared as such,” the petition said.

The former Indian Railway Account Service (IRAS) officer of the 1981 batch has claimed that he was not involved in the decisions regarding A.M. Films, which kicked up a controversy.