PRIYANK JAIN Commonwealth Games Corruption Scam

Q: 1 What are Commonwealth Games? Who are the participating nations?

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The Games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which also controls the sporting programme and selects the host cities. The host city is selected from across the Commonwealth, with eighteen cities in seven countries having hosted it. There are currently 54 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games.

Q: 2 When did India bid for it?

The two principal bids for the 2010 Commonwealth Games were from Delhi, India and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A ballot of members was held in November 2003 at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Delhi bid won by a margin of 46 votes to 22, confirming India's first successful bid for the Games. The bid was Canada's attempt to hold the games for the fifth time. India's bid motto was New Frontiers and Friendships. India shifted the balance in its favour in the second round of voting with a promise that it would provide US$100,000 to each participating country, along with air tickets, boarding, lodging and transport. The successful 2003 Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad was also seen as having showed India has the resources, infrastructure and technical know-how to stage a big sporting event.

Q: 3 Who are the members of the Organising Committee?

Q: 4 Who are the other civic bodies involved altogether in the preparation of the games and who got what?

Sports Authority Of India(for building sports infrastructure) Rs. 2904.86cr Organising Committee(for conducting games) Rs.1620cr Delhi Development Authority(for Games Village) Rs. 827.85cr GNCT-Delhi Govt(Civic Infrastructure) Rs. 2800cr

Q: 5 When was the corruption first reported? Q: 6 Which are the civic bodies who are going to probe the corruption scam?

A panel has been set up by the government to look into the corruption charges in the Games. Headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General, VK Shunglu, the panel will submit its report within three months to the Prime Minister. It has the mandate to review every transaction, if needed. The special panel appointed by
the government will probe the financial bungling and administrative lapses. The Comptroller and Auditor

General (CAG) is looking into financial misappropriation; and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the routing of funds, which have been traced to tax havens like Mauritius. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be examining tenders issued for various Games related projects, which are already under scrutiny after exposes on items being bought at absurdly inflated rates. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is looking into allegations of corruption in all infrastructure projects like the stadia and Games' venues.

Q: 7 What are the major works and projects under scanner?

The major projects and works under scanner include: Queens Baton function held in London in 2009 for inflated taxi rates which includes the former CWG Deputy Director-General Dr. Sanjay Mohindroo and Lalit Bhanot for alleged Foreign Exchange Violations. A Rs 760 crore bail out package given by Delhi Development Authority(DDA) for EmaarMGF, a private builder hired for construction of games village. UK-based broadcast firm for alleged tax evasion amounting to Rs 29 crore.

 Alleged discrepancies found in purchase of air conditioners, furniture and kitchen equipment for GWG games village by DDA. Q: 8 Why was PMO in the news during alleged CWG corruption scam? The Bharatiya Janata Party blamed the PMO and the union cabinet for not verifying the costs before approving the inflated budget of various games projects. The BJP president, Nitin Gadkari also mentioned that out of the Rs 70000 crore spent on games, only Rs 350 crore was spent on Indian sportspersons. Another big question asked by BJP president was how the total budget for staging the games escalated 17.5% of the original budget and why didnt the PMO or Dr. Manmohan Singh himself ask questions?