The Commonwealth Games scam of 2010 was a corruption scandal that emerged during the organization of the XIX Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India.
The scam was a result of massive embezzlement of public funds and widespread corruption, which tarnished the image of the Games and exposed the deep-rooted corruption prevalent in Indian bureaucracy.
The Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi from October 3 to 14, 2010.
In September 2010, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR (First Information Report) against unknown officials of the Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games (OC CWG) and private companies.
In November 2010, the CBI arrested two top officials of the OC CWG – T.S. Darbari and Sanjay Mahendroo.
In December 2010, the CBI arrested Suresh Kalmadi, the then Chairman of the OC CWG, on charges of cheating, conspiracy, and corruption.
Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the OC CWG
Lalit Bhanot, Secretary-General of the OC CWG
T.S. Darbari, Deputy Director General of the OC CWG
Sanjay Mahendroo, Joint Director General of the OC CWG
M.J. Akbar, former President of the Indian Olympic Association
Sheila Dikshit, former Chief Minister of Delhi
The scam involved massive corruption in awarding contracts for the construction of stadiums, procurement of equipment, and various other projects related to the Commonwealth Games.
The accused officials colluded with private companies to inflate the prices of goods and services, siphoning off the excess money for their personal gain.
The CBI estimated that the scam involved a total loss of around Rs 70,000 crore (approximately $10 billion).
The scam involved a massive amount of money.
The CBI estimated that the scam involved a total loss of around Rs 70,000 crore (approximately $10 billion).
The scam was first exposed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, which submitted a report in August 2010 highlighting various irregularities and financial mismanagement in the organization of the Commonwealth Games.
The report was instrumental in bringing the scam to public attention and triggering a series of investigations by various agencies.
The scam was widely covered by the Indian media, which exposed the extent of corruption and mismanagement in the organization of the Games.
The scandal sparked public outrage and led to widespread protests demanding accountability and transparency in the functioning of the government.
The accused officials were arrested and faced charges of corruption, cheating, and conspiracy.
The CBI conducted a thorough investigation and filed chargesheets against the accused.
However, the legal process has been slow, and the trials are still ongoing. Some of the accused have been granted bail, while others are still in custody.
The scam had far-reaching consequences, tarnishing India’s reputation and exposing the deep-rooted corruption prevalent in the government and bureaucracy.
It also highlighted the need for greater accountability and transparency in the functioning of public institutions.
The scam triggered a nationwide debate on corruption and led to the passage of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, which established an anti-corruption ombudsman to investigate cases of corruption against public officials.
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