Australasian Leisure Management
Feb 25, 2011

Two more Commonwealth Games officials arrested

Two senior officials involved in the running of last year's Delhi Commonwealth Games been arrested on suspicion of corruption.

A spokesman for India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the BBC that organising committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and another leading executive, VK Verma, have been accused of inflating costs while procuring timers and scoring equipment from a Swiss manufacturer, Swiss Timing.

The alleged scam cost the Indian government nearly $24 million, but Swiss Timing has rejected all accusations against it with the company's director general, Christophe Berthaud, insisting the claims were " absolutely wrong".

Bhanot and Verma, who have both denied the allegations, will appear in court later today. Bhanot was second-in-command to Games Chair Suresh Kalmadi, who is also being investigated.

Last month, new Indian Sports Minister Ajay Maken dismissed Bhanot and Kalmadi from the organising committee to enable police to conduct "impartial and unhindered investigations".

The news arrests follow the November arrests of former Commonwealth Games Joint Director General TS Darbari and Deputy Director General Sanjay Mahindroo were arrested for offences relating to forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

23rd November 2010 - TWO COMMONWEALTH GAMES OFFICIALS ARRESTED

4th October 2010 - SPECTACULAR OPENING CEREMONY FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES 

21st September 2010 - AUSTRALIA WARNS OF ‘HIGH RISK’ COMMONWEALTH GAMES TERRORISM

20th September 2010 - DELHI 2010 VENUES DECLARED READY FOR USE

2nd August 2010 - DELHI COMMONWEALTH GAMES SAFETY CERTIFICATES FAKED 

29th July 2010 - VENUES NEAR COMPLETION FOR DELHI COMMONWEALTH GAMES

14th October 2009 - INDIA ‘BEHIND SCHEDULE’ FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES

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