Government extends tenure of GoM on Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI: The Centre has extended by two months tenure of a Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Defence Minister AK Antony, to examine the alleged irregularities in the conduct of last year's Commonwealth Games, sources said.

According to the sources, the decision was taken after receiving recommendations from the GoM seeking more time to scrutinise documents, cross-check responses received from the different departments involved in alleged irregularities, and to decide the future course of action.

"There are voluminous records pertaining to the alleged wrongdoings in carrying out Games related works. The GoM wanted to peruse them properly to pinpoint responsibility and punish the guilty. A comprehensive report is likely to be submitted by the group by January-end next year," a GoM member said.

Besides Antony, the high-powered panel has Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma as members. Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy is a special invitee.

The GoM was made to examine Shunglu Committee reports on the alleged financial and managerial lapses by different government departments in implementing several projects in the run up to the mega sporting event held here between October 3 and 14 last year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on August 2 this year constituted a ministerial panel to examine the findings of the High Level Committee under the chairmanship of former Comptroller and Auditor General VK Shunglu, and asked it to submit its report within three months.