Source: www.sportbusiness.com
Two senior officials involved in the running of last year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi have been arrested on suspicion of corruption.
A spokesman for India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the BBC that organising committee secretary general Lalit Bhanot and another leading executive, VK Verma, have been accused of inflating costs while procuring timers and scoring equipment from a Swiss manufacturer, Swiss Timing.
The alleged scam cost the Indian government nearly US$24 million, but Swiss Timing has rejected all accusations against it with the company’s director general, Christophe Berthaud, insisting the claims were “absolutely wrong”.
Bhanot and Verma, who have both denied the allegations, will appear in court later today. Bhanot was second-in-command to Games chief Suresh Kalmadi, who is also being investigated.
Last month, new Indian Sports Minister Ajay Maken dismissed Bhanot and Kalmadi from the organising committee to enable police to conduct “impartial and unhindered investigations”.