Shunglu Committee to look into CWG corruption

NEW DELHI: The V K Shunglu Committee, appointed to probe allegations of corruption charges in the conduct of Commonwealth Games, will look into alleged misappropriation of funds, irregularities, weaknesses in management and wrongdoing.

According to a 10-point terms of reference announced on Monday, the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India-headed panel will have Shantanu Consul, secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, as its second member, upon his retirement on October 31. The committee has been asked to give its report within three months.

Unveiling the mandate for the two-member high-level committee, the Prime Minister’s Office also said the CAG, CVC and other agencies will independently carry out their audit and investigations in accordance with their respective mandates on the Games and take action immediately on complaints.

A PMO statement said the Committee will recommend action on any matter that comes to its notice involving alleged misappropriation and other wrongful conduct and the agencies concerned will take “immediate action” as warranted under law. The Committee will also look into “wasteful expenditure.”

The V K Shunglu Committee will also consider any complaint from any member of the public, duly supported by documents.

The brief of Shunglu committee is “all encompassing”. The committee would not look into specific cases of graft as investigative agencies like CBI, Central Vigilance Commission, Enforcement Directorate and income-tax department are already handling various corruption-related cases.

While the committee might not try and establish the money trail, it would be given powers to investigate larger decision-making process. There are allegations about how decisions on award of contracts were delayed so much that there was manifold cost escalation. The probe panel would try and fix responsibility for delayed decision-making process that led to embarrassment for India. This could spell trouble for OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi as he has been maintaining that all decisions were taken by OC executive body and not unilaterally by him.