India’s top investigating agency has arrested two 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games officials for alleged financial irregularities. TS Darbari and Sanjay Mohindroo are accused of forgery and cheating over the awarding of Games contracts. The men were suspended from their posts in August. They deny any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, Suresh Kalmadi, the Games organising committee chief, quit his post in the Congress party. He has been under investigation over claims of corruption at October’s sporting spectacular, and denies any wrongdoing. The build-up to the event was overshadowed by revelations of sleaze, incompetence and missed construction deadlines. The allegations come just a day after Indian Telecommunications Minister A Raja was forced to step down over claims he undersold mobile phone licenses. He denies the charges. The high-profile corruption cases are an embarrassment for the Indian government, says the BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi.
Mr Darbari and Mr Mohindroo were arrested after raids on their offices and homes, said Harsh Bhal, a spokesman for India’s Central Bureau of Investigation. They are alleged to have forged documents as part of a scam to award Games contracts to companies at inflated prices. These are the first arrests since a high-level investigation was launched last month into corruption charges surrounding the Games. In August, the Games’ treasurer, Anil Khanna, quit after claims an Australian firm won the contract to lay tennis courts for the Games because his son headed its Indian arm. All India Tennis Association chief Mr Khanna denied any wrongdoing. – BBC
