Delhi Govt. says Shunglu allegations baseless

New Delhi, May 28 (ANI): The Delhi Government today sent its report to the Union Home Ministry on allegations made by the Shunglu Committee about bunglings in the 2010 Commonwealth Games projects.

The over 1,000-page report, gives paragraph-wise response of the observation made by V. K. Shunglu-led high-level committee probing delays and irregularities in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) projects, while rubbishing all its findings, arguing that they were based on 'presumptions' and 'assumptions'.

The Delhi Cabinet had on May 25 approved its final response, rejecting point-by-point the charges made in the Shunglu panel.

The Home Ministry had last month sent the Shunglu panel report to the Delhi Government, and asked it to file a detailed response to the findings within a month.

Commenting on the severe indictment by Shunglu panel, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had on March 29 said that the government will respond with a point-by-point rebuttal.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had appointed the high-level committee on October 25, 2010, to investigate and report all irregularities in executing various projects by several government agencies during the 2010-sporting extravaganza.

In its report submitted to the PMO, the Shunglu panel blamed CWG Organising Committee and certain officials for delay in executing contracts for the games.

The Shunglu panel has also questioned 'delays' in executing a number of contracts.

The panel headed by V.K. Shunglu had on January 31 submitted its first report on alleged irregularities in awarding broadcasting rights during the sporting extravaganza and recommended strict action against suspended Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharti B S Lalli and former Director General (Doordarshan) Aruna Sharma under relevant Sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act for their alleged act of omission and commission.

Both Lalli, a 1971-batch IAS officer, and Sharma (1982 batch IAS officer of MP cadre) are facing allegations of irregularities in the Rs.246 crore deal struck by public broadcasting body which included the controversial decision to give the contract for broadcast of the Games to a UK-based firm SIS Live.

The second and third report submitted by the Committee on the Games Village and the city's infrastructure has indicted Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejinder Khanna and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, among several others, for delays and losses in projects related to the 2010 Games. (ANI)