Commonwealth Games: Ashish Patel submitted fake invoices in QBR scam, believes CBI

NEW DELHI: The CBI suspects that London-based owner of AM Films and Cars Ashish Patel, who got the contract for Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) in connection with the Commonwealth Games, had "submitted fake invoices and quotations to get payments released from the Suresh Kalmadi-run Organising Committee".
CBI sources told TOI that after analysing documents received recently from Scotland Yard, they suspected that "these invoices and quotations were of a company which is non-existent".A senior CBI official said they were seeking Scotland Yard's help to know more about this non-existing company.
CBI officials claimed that when Patel submitted these invoices, OC did not verify the antecedents of the company and released payments. The agency questioned Patel once in London but he did not provide his statement, which was sought through Letter Rogatory (LR).
CBI received some documents from Scotland Yard about Patel's companies, the QBR contract and details of bank transactions. "While analysing the documents, we found that some invoices and quotations were fake. We will ask for more documents and this will prove to be important evidence against Ashish Patel," a source said.
The agency is planning to file a chargesheet in the AM Films and Cars cases, which were registered in November 15. However, it might get slightly delayed as officials said the investigations were completed in India but they were awaiting more details from London. CBI officials said once they had all evidence against Patel, they would look at the possibility of getting him extradited to India.
Sacked OC chief Suresh Kalmadi had allegedly authorised payments to Patel's firms at exorbitant rates. "It is alleged that in relation to the QBR held on October 29, 2009, the OC awarded the work of transportation to AM Cars and Van Hire Ltd at exorbitantly high rates without following the standard tender process," the CBI FIR had said.
Other accused in the case including Sanjay Mohindroo and T S Darbari were arrested by CBI last year but were released on bail as the agency could not file a chargesheet.