CBI raids 16 locations in Jharkhand 34th national games scam case

Raids were conducted after an FIR was registered into the matter on the orders of the High Court

On Thursday, The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 16 places including Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Godda, Dumka districts of Jharkhand, Bihar's Patna and in Delhi at the premises of the accused in the 34th national games scam case.

A case was filed to investigate alleged irregularities in the purchase of sports items, equipment and allied services during the 34th National Games, which was held in Ranchi in February 2011.

The raids were conducted after an FIR was registered into the matter on the orders of the High Court.

The CBI in a statement said, "Certain incriminating documents have been recovered during searches which are being scrutinised."

The other accused include PC Mishra, the then Director (Sports), Govt. of Jharkhand; SM Hashmi, the then Organising Secretary, National Games Organizing Committee & Madhukant Pathak, the then Treasurer, Jharkhand Olympic Association.

In April, the Jharkhand High Court had ordered CBI probe while disposing a public interest investigation (PIL), transferring the case from the state’s anti-corruption bureau (ACB) to the federal probe agency. The ACB had arrested Tirkey in September 2019 in connection with the case. Tirkey had got bail from Jharkhand High Court thereafter.

In a statement on Thursday, the federal agency said that besides Tirkey, the CBI also searched the premises of noted lawyer R K Anand, who was the working chairman of the National Games Organising Committee, which is based in the national capital.

The premises of former director of sports in Jharkhand, P C Mishra, organising secretary of national games Madhukant Pathak and organising secretary H M Hashmi are also being searched, officials said.