London businessman not helping in CWG probe

New Delhi: The CBI probe in the Queen Baton's Relay case has received a setback as a London-based businessman, whose firms were engaged in transport and display works during the event, is not cooperating with the agency.

Ashish Patel-owned AM Car and Van Hire company was engaged during QBR in 2009 to provide services like taxis for the guests and OC members, while the AM films was hired to provide display monitors during the event.

The agency was banking on Patel to provide details of alleged conspiracy involving officials of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, and his turning into approver would have given "crucial" fillip to the CBI's case, sources said.

Senior CBI officials, however, claimed that Patel could have been an important element in proving conspiracy and money trail but even his non-cooperation will not affect the case much.

The CBI had last month sent a two-member team comprising Additional Director V K Gupta and DIG S K Palsania to London to probe the payments made to the two companies allegedly with Kalmadi's tacit approval, they said.

The agency tried to contact Patel through informal channels where he had agreed to cooperate in the probe but he seemed to have change his stance now, sources claimed.

The CBI team during their visit to London had also questioned other companies which were in the fray for the contract, sources said.

The London visit gave the CBI fresh leads in cases related to alleged irregularities in hiring of AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited during QBR, sources in the agency said.

The CBI has alleged that in relation to the QBR held on October 29, 2009, the OC awarded the work of transportation to AM Car and Van Hire Ltd at exorbitantly high rates.

"The work was awarded to AM Car and Van Hire Ltd without following the standard tender process. The work was given to the firm on the false promise made by it that it was on the panel of Indian High Commission, London," the agency has

alleged in its FIR.

Former OC officials T S Darbari, M Jaychandran and Sanjay Mahendroo were arrested by the CBI last year in connection with contracts awarded to the two firms.

However, all the three secured bails as the agency failed to file its charge sheet in stipulated period of 60 days.