CBI conducts searches in National Games fraud case

JMM-led government in Jharkhand terms it ‘intimidation’

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday searched multiple locations in Jharkhand, Bihar and Delhi in connection with alleged irregularities in the procurements for the 34 th National Games held in Ranchi in February 2011, prompting the ruling alliance government led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to term it an “act to terrorise and intimidate the government”.

The development came a day after the Election Commission announced byelections on June 23 for 10 parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in six States, including Jharkhand, where the Mandar Assembly seat fell vacant as the then Congress legislator Bandhu Tirkey was disqualified last month after being sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in a corruption case.

“Of late, raids by the Central government agencies in Jharkhand on one pretext or other are being done to terrorise the democratically elected government. Raids have been conducted in cases in which the CBI even had submitted closure reports”, said senior JMM leader and party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya.

Among the 16 premises covered by the CBI was that of Mr. Tirkey, a former State Sports Minister, who alleged that such actions were taken whenever there were polls in the State. He accused the BJP of attempting to intimidate members of the other parties, particularly in Jharkhand, who opposed its flawed policies. He said the CBI should reveal the findings of the searches.

According to the CBI, the searches were conducted in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Godda and Dumka in Jharhand, Bihar’s Patna and Delhi.

Following a Jharkhand High Court directive on April 11, the agency took over the case against former MP R. K. Anand, who was the then working chairman of the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC); P. C. Mishra, then director (sports) in the State government; S. M. Hashmi, then NGOC organising secretary; and Madhukant Pathak, then treasurer of the Jharkhand Olympic Association.

The probe was earlier carried out by the Jharkhand Vigilance Bureau. “It was alleged that large-scale irregularities were committed in the purchase of sports items, equipment and allied services,” said the CBI.