Latest news with #SureshKalmadi
United News of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
After clean chit from court to Kalmadi, Congress celebrates in Pune
Pune, Apr 29 ( UNI) Congress workers on Tuesday gathered in front of former Union minister Suresh Kalmadi in Erandwane area here and celebrated the Delhi court's clean chit to the senior party leader. The slogan 'Sabse bada khiladi, Suresh Kalmadi' was heard once again soon after the Delhi court accepted the Enforcement Directorate's closure report in a money laundering case against Kalmadi, the former head of the 2010 Commonwealth Games organizing committee. The other accused who got the court clean chit included the then general secretary Lalit Bhanot. Kalmadi's supporters celebrated the occasion with bursting of firecrackers. In 2010, allegations of corruption surfaced in the organization of the Commonwealth Games. Kalmadi and others were accused of irregularities in the allocation and implementation of two important contracts. Special judge Sanjeev Agarwal noted that the CBI has already closed the corruption case. The ED after an investigation into the money laundering case too has accepted the report, the judge noted. UNI SP PRS
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi court accepts ED closure in CWG 2010 money laundering case; ends 13-year probe
NEW DELHI: The 13 year-old, 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) corruption case has come to a close as a Delhi Court officially accepted the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) decision to end its investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the event. The case initially gained attention due to allegations against Suresh Kalmadi, the former Chairman of the CWG Organising Committee and Lalit Bhanot, the former Secretary General, along with other persons. Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of the Rouse Avenue Court pointed out that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had already closed the related corruption case, which had led the ED to begin its money laundering investigation. The ED's report also named several key figures, including Vijay Kumar Gautam, the then COO of the CWG Organizing Committee, A K Matto, the treasurer, as well as the company Event Knowledge Service (EKS) and its CEO, Craig Gordon MeLatchey. The allegations revolved around financial misconduct in awarding two major contracts for the Games, which were said to have led to illegal profits for certain parties while causing losses to the Organising Committee. Judge Aggarwal, in accepting the ED's closure report, explained that no crime related to money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) could be established due to the lack of criminal proceeds. The investigation also found no evidence of any offence under Section 2(1)(y) of the PMLA, which defines scheduled offences. The evidence gathered showed that no act of money laundering had occurred as per the PMLA's stipulations. Despite extensive investigations by the ED, the prosecution was unable to provide proof of any offence under Section 3 of the PMLA, which carries penalties under Section 4 of the same law. As a result, the court accepted the ED's closure report and concluded that the investigation could go no further. In 2016, a special court had accepted the CBI's closure report in a related corruption case. This case involved officials from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and a private company, among others. The CBI found that its investigation had not uncovered enough evidence to support the allegations against the individuals named. The CBI had concluded in 2014 that no incriminating evidence was found and the allegations could not be proven. With both the ED and CBI failing to substantiate the claims, the case has now ended. PFI leader OMA Salam gets custody parole The Delhi High Court on Monday granted custody parole to OMA Salam, the former chairman of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), so that he could travel to his hometown in Kerala to perform religious and family rites after the death of his daughter, a medical student. Justice Ravinder Dudeja considered the arguments put forward and allowed Salam three days of custody parole, giving him six hours of supervised release each day. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed a longer parole period, raising concerns that Salam's high standing within PFI could put pressure on state resources.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: ED gives clean chit to Kalmadi in CWG case
A Delhi court on Monday formally accepted the closure report filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged irregularities in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, finding no evidence of money laundering against Suresh Kalmadi — effectively giving him a clean chit in the 15-year-old case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had earlier investigated the matter, had also filed a closure report. Along with Kalmadi, the court closed the case against other office-bearers of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC). Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court observed that the prosecution had failed to establish an offence under Section 3 (money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court noted that since no offence was found despite investigations by ED, there was no reason to continue with the case. ED, in its closure report, pointed out that with the CBI's closure report having attained finality, no offence of money laundering was made out due to the absence of proceeds of crime. Special judge Aggarwal said, '... no offence under Section 3 of PMLA has been made out or committed… therefore, there is no reason to continue the present ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report), as a result, the closure report filed by the ED stands accepted.' The case was initially registered by CBI in 2012 against then OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, IAS officer Vijay Kumar Gautam, treasurer AK Mattoo, secretary Lalit Bhanot and others for offences of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. The agency alleged that OC officials misconducted themselves in awarding and executing two major work contracts for the Games to Event Knowledge Services (EKS) and Ernst & Young (E&Y), causing a loss of ₹30 crore to the exchequer. EKS Switzerland and its CEO Craig Gordon MeLatchey were also named as accused. Following the CBI probe, ED began its investigation into possible money laundering in 2013. In 2014, the CBI filed a closure report, saying no incriminating evidence had surfaced. The report was accepted in 2016, with the court noting that OC officials had followed standard procedures to ensure quality service providers were selected for the international event. The Congress, meanwhile, attacked the BJP after Monday's development. 'For years, the BJP ecosystem used lies to defame the Congress on issues like 2G, CWG, Robert Vadra and coal. Today, the truth stands strong and their lies have been exposed,' said Congress leader Pawan Khera. 'The collapse of these fabricated cases is not just a legal victory but a moral and political indictment of the BJP's politics of false narrative,' he added.
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Court accepts ED closure report in PMLA case against Kalmadi, others
A Delhi court on Monday accepted the ED's closure report in a money laundering case against Suresh Kalmadi, the former head of the 2010 Commonwealth Games organising committee, its then secretary general Lalit Bhanot and others. This brings to end the money laundering angle in the alleged scam, which triggered a massive political uproar during the Congress-led UPA government. Kalmadi faces another corruption case linked to the CWG Games, in which the CBI has accused him of irregularities in awarding a contract to a Swiss firm, allegedly causing a loss of more than `90 crore to the exchequer. In this case, he was arrested on April 24, 2011 and, nine months later, granted bail by the Delhi High Court. Also Read | Modi, Kejriwal should apologise for misleading country: Congress On Monday, Rouse Avenue Court Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal said in his order: 'Since during the investigations, the prosecution has failed to make out a offence under section 3 (money laundering) of the PMLA… as no offence under section 3 of the PMLA has been made out or has been committed, despite discreet investigations by the ED, therefore, there is no reason to continue with the present ECIR, as a consequence, the closure report filed by the ED stands accepted.' While accepting the ED's closure report, the court noted that the CBI had already closed the corruption case based on which the ED had started its money laundering probe. In this case, the CBI had also named as accused the then COO of the CWG organising committee, Vijay Kumar Gautam, its then treasurer A K Matto and Event Knowledge Services, Switzerland, among others. Kalmadi and the others were accused of awarding two key contracts in a 'wrongful manner' to Event Knowledge Services (EKS) and Ernst and Young, allegedly causing a loss of `30 crore to the CWG organising panel. The CBI's closure report — it stated that 'no incriminating evidence surfaced during the investigation in the matter' — was filed in January 2014 and was accepted by a Delhi court in February 2016.
News18
28-04-2025
- Business
- News18
2010 CWG 'Scam': Court Accepts ED's Closure Report In Case Against Suresh Kalmadi
Agency: PTI The acceptance of the closure report brings to end the money laundering angle in the alleged scam, which took place 15 years ago Bringing down curtains on a 13-year-old case, a Delhi court on Monday accepted the Enforcement Directorate's closure report in a money laundering case against Suresh Kalmadi, the former head of the organising committee of 2010 Commonwealth Games and then secretary general Lalit Bhanot and others. The acceptance of the closure report brings to end the money laundering angle in the alleged scam, which took place 15 years ago. The allegations of corruption in conducting the 2010-Commonwealth Games (CWG) triggered a huge political uproar in the country, leading to filing of several criminal and money laundering cases, including the present one. Kalmadi and others were accused of misconduct in award and execution of two important contracts for the games. Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal noted the CBI had already closed the corruption case, based on which the ED started its money laundering probe and accepted the report, which also named CWG OC's then COO, Vijay Kumar Gautam, its then treasurer, A K Matto, Event Knowledge Service (EKS), Switzerland, and CEO, Craig Gordon MeLatchey. The judge noted ED's submission that the offence of money laundering was not found during its investigation. 'Since during the investigations, the prosecution has failed to make out a offence under section 3 (money laundering) of the PMLA… as no offence under section 3 of the PMLA has been made out or has been committed, despite discreet investigations by the ED, therefore, there is no reason to continue with the present ECIR, as a consequence, the closure report filed by the ED stands accepted," the judge held. The sole money laundering investigation was initiated by the ED based on the case lodged by the CBI. According to the CBI, the works contracts related to Commonwealth Games were Games Workforce Service (GWS) and Games Planning, Project & Risk Management Services (GPPRMS). An undue pecuniary gain was caused by the accused persons to the to the consortium of EKS and Ernst and Young, by way of awarding the two contracts in a deliberate and wrongful manner and caused corresponding loss of Rs 30 crore to OC, CWG, the CBI alleged. The CBI later filed a closure report in January 2014, saying 'no incriminating evidence surfaced during the investigation in the matter" and the allegations in the FIR could not be substantiated against the accused persons. .
