In a tersely-worded letter, the government has directed Commonwealth Games convenor Suresh Kalmadi to immediately remove two top officials of the CWG organising committee (OC) facing corruption charges. T S Darbari, a joint director general on the OC and Dr Sanjay Mahindroo, a deputy director general, have been named in various media reports as being involved in alleged irregularities over payments to an UK-based company for the launch of the Queen's Baton Relay in London 2009.

Darbari also has a pending customs case for alleged diamond smuggling, The government has asked that both offcials be removed as their involvement "tarnishes the image of the Games and adversely affects its credibility."

The content of the letter has been reproduced below.

CONFIDENTIAL

SINDHUSHREE KHULLAR
Secretary (Sports)

File number 1/8/SP 2010 dated August 1, 2010

Dear Shri Suresh Kalmadi,

Please refer to my DO Letter on Febraury 11, 2010 in which I had brought to your notice a disturbing report in the Indian Express on February 10 regarding the alleged involvemnt  of T S Darbari, joint director general of CWG.

The CWG being a prestigious international event,the alleged involvement of a Senior official of the Organising Committee in a matter such as this would be highly detrimental to the reputation of the games and therefore I had advised you that Darbari who was reported to be in charge of revenue marketing be relieved immediatley of all his charges.

2. Subsequently, in DO letter 20 APril 2010 JS to my department had also written to CEO CWG, in the context of my earlier letter, and had advised that Darbari who had been deputed for a visit to Australia with the Queen's Baton Relay may be withdrawn from the team touring Australia while the case regarding the alleged irregularites under the customs act was still pending.

Further, in the letter,JS from my department had again advised  that Darbari, in the light of the alleged involvemnt in the custom case, should not have been sent to Australia on official work without prior approval of the sports ministry. A letter from JS Sports on April 28, 2010 had reiterated the concern.

3. However, by letter DO April 23, you had informed us that since there is no case or charge registered against Darbari by customs, the question of divesting Darbari of his charge in OC does not arise. Revenue department has now informed us that on the basis of the details furnished by the passenger, summons were issued to Darbari in the given address but Darbari express his inability to appear at Cochin on medical grounds. His request for recording his statement at Delhi was acceeded to and his statement was recorded by Superintendent (Customs)on April 5, 2010. Further investigation is in progress to check the veracity of the statement of Darbari.

4. The print and electronic media have recently highlighted inter alia the alleged invovlement of T S Darbari and Sanjay Mahindroo (DDG) in some alleged irregularities in payments to a UK company for services provided for the launch of Queen's Baton Relay in London in October 2009. This matter has been referred to the Government by the HM Revenue and Customs Department of the UK through the Indian High Commission in London.

5. You will appreciate that with the Commonwealth Games just in two months away, matters such as the above raise questions about the standards of priority and integrity of officers in the Organising Committee. They tarnish  the image of the Games and adversely affect its credibility.

6.  I would therefore again strongly advise you that the above two officers should be immediately relieved of all their duties in the OC and the Government be informed accordingly.

Yours sincerely
Sindhushree Khullar.

To
Shri Suresh Kalmadi
Chairman of OC
Jai Singh Road
NDMC building
New Delhi