CWG scam: CBI closes MTNL data network case

NEW DELHI, Jan 11:
After nearly 18 months of probe, CBI has closed investigation in one of the Commonwealth Games projects related to alleged inflation of cost by MTNL and a private company in setting up a broadcast network for the sports event by nearly Rs 400 crore.
CBI sources said the agency found that additional cost was incurred because Commonwealth Games in Delhi were spread across a much bigger area as compared to Melbourne Commonwealth Games which were held in not more than 10 kilometer distance.
Sources said the allegations of corruption could not be substantiated during the probe and the cost escalation appeared to be the result of genuine reasons prompting the agency to file a closure report before the competent court.
The sources said the infrastructure used for setting up IP/MPLS Technology-based broadcast network was established from scratch for the Commonwealth Games here as compared to Melbourne where the technology was already in use.
CBI sources said there probe showed that Australia already had an infrastruture in place for the broadcast and it was like plug-and-play thereby costing less.
They said the network had not gone waste after the Games as it is being used by the state-run telecom provider which is earning money out of it.
In its case registered in June, 2011, CBI had alleged that former MTNL Chairman cum Managing Director R S P Sinha, Executive Director S M Talwar, GM (Corporate Sales) N K Jain and DGM Jitendra Garg had awarded work of broadcast network based on IP/MPLS Technology at an exorbitant price of approximately Rs 570.12 crores by manipulating specifications.
CBI had alleged that the initial estimate of broadcasting data project was very limited costing Rs 31.43 crores but the officials included a Broadcast Video Network which resulted in cost escalation by Rs 380.04 crore.
It had alleged that the specification change was done with an intention to cause huge pecuniary advantage to the firm. (PTI)