Commonwealth Games Scam: IOA Probe Panel Suspends Kalmadi aide Darbari

New Delhi Joint director General of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee T S Darbari was suspended on Thursday by the IOA probe panel after reports suggested of bad financial deals with London-based AM Films.

Joint DG (Accounts & Finance) M Jayachandran has also been suspended for financial irregularities.

It is alleged Darbari worked out deals that have been questioned in financial audits. His role has also come into question for “alleged irregularities” for services provided during the Queen's Baton Relay ceremony in London a few months ago. Darbari headed the OC's revenue and marketing units.

The Sports Ministry had recently shot off a letter to his boss and Organising Committee chairman to immediately sack Darbari. The letter, written by Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar to Kalmadi, stated: “With the Games just two months away, matters such as the above (the UK payments and an alleged Customs inquiry against Darbari) raise questions of probity and integrity of officers in the OC. They tarnish the image of the Games and adversely affect its credibility... I would strongly advise you that the above two officers should be immediately relieved of all their duties in the OC and the Government informed accordingly...”

Darbari is an alumnus of St Stephen's College and Britain's Hull University, from where he completed the course in Master of Business Administration. He has held various posts including those in the cabinet secretariat, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and the Petroleum ministry and the Union Bank of India.