Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
In fresh trouble for the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee,the Income Tax department has sought details on the appointment of over 2,000 people amid allegations that many were “ghost employees”.
In a letter to the OC,the Income tax department has asked it to furnish details of muster rolls,documents pertinent to selection of workforce,salary and tax deductions among others.
The OC has been asked to submit the details by this month. The IT action came following complaints that large amounts had been siphoned off as salary expenditure in the names of people falsely shown on the rolls.
About 2,100 people were shown as having worked between May 2009 and November 2010 at different capacities and have together drawn salary running into several crores.
“We have asked details of employment in OC to cross-examine whether all the employees have taken their salaries and paid taxes. We will also be checking whether the muster rolls and other records were manipulated,” an IT official said.
The move assumes significance as Central Vigilance Commission has received complaints of “fraudulent” recruitment process undertaken by the Organising Committee,sources said.
They said the CVC has also asked the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Sports Ministry to probe irregularities in the whole employment process.
The OC has at present about 250 employees who are being relieved in a phased manner,sources said.
The anti-corruption watchdog is inquiring into over 30 complaints related to the alleged corruption in Games works carried out by different civic and construction agency. It includes overlays works,workforce selection,hiring of equipment and public relation related projects executed by OC.
Besides,the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered four FIRs naming some of the close aides of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi for the alleged criminal conspiracy and financial irregularities in executing certain contracts.
In its recent FIR,V K Verma,a close aide of Kalmadi and Director General (Finance) in OC,was booked under various sections for forgery,criminal conspiracy and Prevention of Corruption Act.
Verma’s name also figured in the third FIR filed by CBI in connection with the award of Rs 107 crore Swiss Time Keeping contract along with that of CWG Secretary General Lalit Bhanot.
The total value of the overlays contracts that are under the scanner is over Rs 600 crore.
Two other FIRs were in connection with alleged irregularities in the Queen’s Baton Relay held in London in 2009.
CBI has also questioned Kalmadi in connection with its cases.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
