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A Delhi court on Monday accepted the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) closure report in a money laundering case against Suresh Kalmadi, former head of the organising committee of 2010 Commonwealth Games, then Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and others.
Reacting to the court developments, the Congress claimed that the case was “never about justice” and accused the BJP of “weaponising lies”.
The reports of corruption in conducting the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) caused a huge political uproar in the country, leading to filing of several criminal and money laundering cases, including the present one. Mr. Kalmadi and others were accused of misconduct in award and execution of two important contracts for the games.
The BJP had launched a major anti-corruption campaign against the Manmohan Singh government as well as the Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government.
However, on Monday, Special judge (PC Act) Sanjeev Agaarwal of the Rouse Avenue Court said that during the investigations, the prosecution failed to make out an offence under the relevant Section of PMLA [Prevention of Money Laundering Act], therefore, no offence has been made out or has been committed.
“No offence has been made out or has been committed despite discreet investigations by the ED. Therefore, there is no reason to continue with the present ECIR, as a consequence, the closure report filed by the ED stands accepted,” the court said.
It further noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had already closed the corruption case, based on which the ED started its money laundering probe.
The acceptance of the closure report brings to end the money laundering angle in the alleged scam, which took place 15 years ago.
In a video statement, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal targeted very competent former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and former Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit to come to power.
“Their web of lies have been exposed now,” Mr. Khera said, adding, “Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi Ji should seek forgiveness from Dr. Singh’s family, the Congress and all of us. Similarly, Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to Sheila Dikshit’s family, the Congress and all of us,” Mr. Khera said.
Published – April 29, 2025 12:24 am IST
