CWG: CBI awaiting Letters Rogatory replies to nail Kalmadi

New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) The CBI has sent a request to theUnited Kingdom seeking details of financial dealing of London-based Ashish Patel, the owner of AM Films and AM Vans, who isnamed as an accused in Commonwealth Games corruption cases.

The agency has sent a Letters Rogatory to Britain,official sources said.

The sleuths probing the allegations of corruption inCommonwealth Games have tracked an e-mail written by Patel toOrganising Committee treasurer M Jaychandran which, theyclaim, confirms that kickbacks were paid to CWG OrganisingCommittee Chief Suresh Kalmadi.

Patel''s mail mentions details of money which wasallegedly paid to Kalmadi and says that the dues should becleared as swiftly as possible to his companies whose serviceswere used during Queen''s Baton Relay.

To corroborate the contents of mail, the CBI was tryingto extract information from Patel but so far he has remainednon-cooperative, the sources said.

Officials privy to the probe said they were trying toquestion Patel regarding his company''s services extendedduring the ceremonies associated with the Queen''s Baton Relayand alleged monetary exchanges involved in it.

The non-cooperation from Patel had prompted the agencyto adopt a more rigorous legal path of sending Letter Rogatoryto the United Kingdom in this regard.

Patel, who is accused in two cases involving the QBR, wasallegedly paid 2.45 Lakh British Pounds for the services whichwas in violation of norms.

CBI said the first case was registered under differentSections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act in relationto the award of contract to London based AM Car and Van HireLtd at exorbitant rates.

The CBI had charged former OC Joint Director General T SDarbari, former Deputy Director General Sanjay Mahendroo,Director Raj Singh, Patel, and other unknown persons underrelevant provisions of Indian Penal Code.

The agency has alleged that the accused officials of OCin conspiracy with the transport firm and its Director awardedwork to the said firm at exorbitant rates without followingthe standard tender process.

The work was awarded on the false premise that the firmwas on the panel of Indian High Commission, London. Twoe-mails were allegedly forged by the officials of OC tojustify the selection of the firm, the CBI has said.

The second case involves London-based A M Films, Patel,Mahendroo, Darbari and others in awarding the work ofinstallation of video screens at the venue of QBR allegedly atexorbitant rates on the basis of fake quotations and withoutfollowing standard procedure, it said.