New Delhi, Aug 1 (IANS) Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), Sunday denied the assertion of the Indian High Commission in London that the controversial firm AM Films was not recommended by them and produced letters of communication with them as evidence.
The firm is allegedlly being probed by the British government for transfer of 247,000 pounds from CGOC to AM Films for their services during Queen’s Baton Relay in October 2009. British authorities allege irregularities in the payment by CGOC.
The Indian High Commission Saturday denied Kalmadi’s claim that it had recommended London-based firm to CGOC.
Kalmadi, who refuted the allegations in a press conference Saturday, hit back Sunday maintaining that it was the Indian High Commission which had recommended AM Films and its sister company for hiring cars and putting up mobile screens and toilets in London for the event.
Kalmadi released three letters, one written by him to the Indian High Commission and the other two which one Raju Sebastian from the mission wrote to the CGOC in response to his letter.
‘It is being reported by the media that the Indian High Commission in London has denied that they recommended M/S Am Cars to the organising committee for providing various services for the function. They have also said that Mr. Raju Sebatsian is too junior an official to make any recommendation on behalf of the Indian High Commission,’ Kalmadi said in a statement.
‘The OC would like to clarify that we had written to Vikrant Ratan, the first secretary (Protocol) of the Indian High Commission, to provide us the list of agencies for transportation, accommodation and other services and their approved rates.
‘In response, Mr. Raju Sebastian of the (Protocol Division), giving reference to our mail to the first secretary, informed that the approved vendors for transport art M/S AM Car & Van and the Chauffer Company. He also indicated the approved rates of the High Commission for accommodation and transportation. The copies of the mails received from Indian High Commission (Mr. Raju Sebastian) are enclosed,’ Kalmadi said in the statement.
‘This clearly indicates that the Indian High Commission had recommended M/S AM Car & Vans to the Organising Committee for the Queen’s Baton Rally function in London.’
