IT to examine complaints of `ghost employees` in CWG OC

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) In fresh trouble for Commonwealth
Games Organising Committee, the IT department has sought
details of appointment of over 2,000 people amid allegations
that many were "ghost employees".
In a letter to the OC, Income tax department has asked it
to furnish details of muster rolls, documents pertinent to
selection of workforce, salary and Tax Deduction at Source
among others.
The OC has been asked to submit the details by this month
-end. The IT action came following complaints that large
amounts had been siphoned off as salary expenditure in the
names of people falsely shown on the rolls.
About 2,100 people were shown as having worked between
May 2009 and November 2010 at different capacities and have
together drawn salary running into several crores.
"We have asked details of employment in OC to
cross-examine whether all the employees have taken their
salaries and paid taxes. We will also be checking whether the
muster rolls and other records were manipulated or not," an IT
official said.
The move assumes significance as Central Vigilance
Commission has received complaints of "fraudulent"
recruitment process undertaken by the Organising Committee,
sources said.
They said that CVC has also asked the Chief Vigilance
Officer of the Sports Ministry to probe irregularities in the
whole employment process.
The OC has at present about 250 employees who are being
relieved in a phased manner, sources said.
The anti-corruption watchdog is enquiring into over 30
complaints related to alleged corruption in Games works
carried out by different civic and construction agency. It
includes overlays works, workforce selection, hiring of
equipment and public relation related projects executed by OC.
Besides, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has
registered four FIRs naming some of the close aides of OC
chairman Suresh Kalmadi for alleged criminal conspiracy and
financial irregularities in executing certain contracts.
In its recent FIR, V K Verma, a close aide of Kalmadi
and Director General (Finance) in OC, was booked under various
sections for forgery, criminal conspiracy and Prevention of
Corruption Act.
Verma's name also figured in the third FIR filed by CBI
in connection with the award of Rs 107 crore Swiss Time
Keeping contract along with that of CWG Secretary General
Lalit Bhanot.
The total value of the overlays contracts that are
under the scanner is over Rs 600 crore.
Two other FIRs were in connection with alleged
irregularities in the Queen's Baton Relay held in London in
2009.
CBI has also questioned Kalmadi in connection with its
cases.