In fresh trouble for Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, the Income Tax department has sought details of appointment of over 2,000 people amid allegations that many were “ghost employees”. In a letter to the Organising Committee (OC), the I-T department has asked it to furnish details of muster rolls, documents pertinent to selection of workforce, salary and tax deduction at source among others.
The OC has been asked to submit the details by this month-end. The I-T action came following complaints that large amounts had been siphoned off as salary expenditure in the names of people falsely shown on the rolls.
About 2,100 people were shown as having worked between May 2009 and November 2010 at different capacities and have together drawn salary running into several crores.
“We have asked details of employment in OC to cross-examine whether all the employees have taken their salaries and paid taxes. We will also be checking whether the muster rolls and other records were manipulated or not,” an I-T official said.
The move assumes significance as Central Vigilance Commission has received complaints of “fraudulent” recruitment process undertaken by the Organising Committee, sources said. They said that CVC has also asked the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Sports Ministry to probe irregularities in the whole employment process.
The OC has at present about 250 employees who are being relieved in a phased manner, sources said.
The anti-corruption watchdog is enquiring into over 30 complaints related to alleged corruption in Games works carried out by different civic and construction agency. It includes overlays works, workforce selection, hiring of equipment and public relation related projects executed by OC.
Besides, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered four FIRs naming some of the close aides of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi for alleged criminal conspiracy and financial irregularities in executing certain contracts.
