Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) The 2010 Commonwealth Games cost Rs.28,054 crore ($6 billion), 100 times more than estimated. Fifteen cases were registered for alleged irregularities in the preparations for the Games, 200 people were questioned and 25 arrests were made, including organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi.

The Delhi High Court Thursday granted bail to Kalmadi nine months after he was arrested.

The series of events leading to his arrest:

Oct 15, 2010: A day after the CWG ended, the government named a high-level committee headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General V.K. Shunglu to examine all matters related to the preparations for the mega event.

Oct 25, 2010: Shunglu Committee to probe alleged irregularities in conduct of the CWG.

Nov 15, 2010: T.S. Darbari and Sanjay Mohindroo — two former aides of Kalmadi — arrested by the CBI for their alleged involvement in the Queen’s Baton Relay scam.

Nov 30, 2010: CBI lodges complaint against Kalmadi’s other aides Lalit Bhanot and V.K. Verma.

Dec 24, 2010: CBI conducts raids at Kalmadi’s offices and residences in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

Jan 5, 2011: Kalmadi is questioned by the CBI in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the CWG preparations.

Jan 24, 2011: Kalmadi is sacked as chairman of CWG Organising Committee.

Feb 11, 2011: CBI arrests Kalmadi’s personal assistant Shekhar Deorukhkar in Pune.

March 1, 2011: CBI searches Kalmadi’s two bank lockers in Pune in connection with the CWG scam.

March 15, 2011: Kalmadi is questioned by the CBI in connection with the alleged corruption cases related to the Games.

April 5, 2011: Shunglu Committee’s final report slams Kalmadi and many others. The report observes that poor coordination between Kalmadi and the government-appointed officers aggravated the chaos.

April 25, 2011: Kalmadi arrested for his alleged role in awarding a contract for installing the Timing-Scoring-Result system to Swiss Times Omega at an exorbitant cost of Rs.141 crore, allegedly causing a loss of over Rs.95 crore to the public exchequer.

May 20, 2011: CBI files its first chargesheet in the case naming nine accused, including Kalmadi, former OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot and former director general V.K. Verma.

June 6, 2011: A special CBI court dismisses bail plea of Kalmadi after which he approaches the high court.

July 29, 2011: In its second chargesheet, the CBI names four Municipal Corporation of Delhi employees, a private firm, its two co-promoters and an official of Philips (India) for allegedly conspiring by inflating bills for upgrading the capital’s street-lighting system.

Aug 5, 2011: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) indicts Prime Minister’s Office and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s government for deep flaws and financial losses in the CWG preparations. The report puts the cost of the event at Rs.28,054 crore, nearly 100 times more than the original figure of Rs.296 crore.

Sep 12, 2011: A third chargesheet is filed in the case in Pune against officers of the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), Ashok Leyland and Pragati Hightech Products for allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy and providing substandard buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

Nov 30, 2011: The Delhi High Court issues notice to the CBI on Kalmadi’s bail plea. The court asks CBI to file its reply by Jan 6, 2012.

Jan 6, 2012: Kalmadi’s bail plea deferred till Jan 9.

Jan 9, 2012: The CBI tells court that if granted bail, Kalmadi may threaten witnesses.

Jan 10, 2012: High court reserves order on Kalmadi’s bail plea.

Jan 19, 2012: Delhi High Court grants bail to Kalmadi.