CWG Scam: Sonia Gandhi says those guilty will not be spared

New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said those found guilty of corruption in the upcoming Commonwealth Games will be punished once the event is over.

"The Prime Minister is looking into the corruption charges against the Commonwealth Games scheduled in the city from October 3-14 this year," said Gandhi, at a eeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) here today.

"The Commonwealth Games are not related to any political party or individual. It is a national pride and efforts should be made to hold them successfully," she added.

The Congress has so far avoided backing Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who is also a secretary.

In a report, the Times of India had claimed that it had procured enough evidence to prove that Kalmadi cleared payments due to London-based AM Films without securing a written contract or a proper tender process.

The newspaper report alleges that more emails and faxed documents point to Kalmadi's involvement.

AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire reportedly received 247,000 pounds. Businessman Ashish Patel and Commonwealth Committee members, however, said that it was done for the 2009 Queen's Baton ceremony.

"The report quotes an email dated October 24, 2009, on payments and with Kalmadi's signature on it, saying "why so late...now there is no choice." Publicly, Kalmadi claimed he didn't know about the entire dealings with AM Films when the scandal first broke," The NDTV earlier reported.

Moreover, the Central Vigilance Commission has alleged irregularities in several Commonwealth Games related-works being carried out by civic and construction agencies. (ANI)