Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Former Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) chief Suresh Kalmadi Thursday raised questions over the role of Jarnail Singh, former OC CEO, while seeking bail before a Delhi court.

Dubbing Singh as an “absconder”, Kalmadi’s counsel Siddhartha Luthra said before Special Judge Talwant Singh: “As the fulcrum of the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) case, the chargesheet has hinged on letters and correspondences of Singh… how was he not listed as a witness or approver in the case.”

He questioned why co-accused OC’s former treasurer M. Jayachandran, who has also been chargesheeted, was on bail. “Why should I (Kalmadi) be treated different from him,” he said.

The CBI opposed the submission and said: “Kalmadi is an influential person and could tamper with the evidence.”

The arguments on Kalmadi’s bail were concluded.

Former OC joint director general (sports) A.S.V. Prasad’s counsel also sought bail on the grounds that now he did not hold any post in the committee so he could not tamper with the evidence.

The judge, meanwhile, posted the matter for arguments on the bail plea of former OC deputy director general (procurement) Surjeet Lal for May 30.

The court Thursday seized the affidavit record register of an oath commissioner Meena Sharma who May 24 appeared before the court with a petition of absconding co-accused in the case and promoters of Faridabad-based Gem International’s A.K. Madan and Purushottam Arya.

The court questioned the authenticity of the signatures that were in the affidavits and seized her register. It said that the accused were absconding how did they come here to sign the affidavit.

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.

All the accused, including two companies, have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), section 420 (cheating), section 468 and 471 (forgery) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

While Kalmadi, Prasad and Lal were arrested April 26. They are all presently in Tihar Jail.

The CBI May 20 filed its first charge sheet in the case against Kalmadi and others, describing him as a prime accused and the mastermind in the corruption case.

All the accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), section 420 (cheating), sections 468 and 471 (forgery), and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

While Kalmadi, Prasad and Lal were arrested April 26, Bhanot and Verma were arrested Feb 23. They all are at present in Tihar Jail.