Ranchi, Dec. 8: Working chairman of National Games Organising Committee R.K. Anand, questioned by Vigilance Bureau for four hours today on the multi-crore 34th National Games scam, emphasised his 'spotless career' and said former NGOC secretary S.M. Hashmi, now jailed, 'never listened' to his objections over funds handling.

Delhi-based Anand admitted before investigating officer DSP Anand Joseph Tigga that corruption had been widespread in Games preparations but insisted that in his capacity as working chairman, he had informed then governor and chief secretary about it and requested a fair probe into the matter.

Anand also told the bureau that Hashmi was closer to Suresh Kalmadi, the then president of Indian Olympic Association, later disgraced for alleged funds mismanagement of Commonwealth Games.

The state accountant-general's report puts the National Games scam at Rs 28.38 crore. Though in monetary terms, it is one of the state's smallest scams, Jharkhand's sporting image took a beating.

The name of Anand, also Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) president, surfaced in an FIR along with NGOC treasurer Madhukant Pathak, then NGOC secretary Hashmi and then sports director P.C. Mishra.

Hashmi and Mishra were arrested by the vigilance bureau in October 2014, though the case had been lodged in 2010 after then secretary of state wrestling federation Bhola Nath Singh filed the FIR suspecting large-scale fudging in the run-up to the Games held in February 2011.

Anand, however, told the media after his questioning that it was not Singh who exposed Games corruption. 'I lodged the complaint, which is on record,' Anand said. 'Mishra was removed as sports director following my complaint.'

Asked why his name cropped up in the FIR, Anand said: 'I have a spotless career. I am 71 years old. Do you think I'll indulge in corruption?'

'He (Anand) showed us documents that suggest he had alerted successive governments about the ongoing corruption in the Games preparations. It included a complaint against Mishra,' a vigilance officer told The Telegraph.

'When we asked why he didn't stop Hashmi, Anand said 'Hashmi meri baat nahin sunta tha ji. Maine uske kisi bhi decision ko approve nahin kiya',' the officer quoted.

The officer said they asked Anand over 30 questions regarding purchase of sports equipment at inflated rates or in excess and tender anomalies.

Vigilance asked him what prompted NGOC to make bulk buys of sports equipment at higher rates from six Delhi firms. Anand is learnt to have said Kalmadi and Hashmi were the right persons to answer this.

On Wizcraft, roped in by the NGOC for the Games, Anand said tender rules were tweaked to benefit the event management company in which he had no role. He stressed he was not the part of any tender process on purchases.

Vigilance have questioned Kalmadi and former IOA office bearer Lalit Bhanot in connection with the Games scam.

Though based in Delhi, Anand's links with Jharkhand go deep. A former Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, Anand, also a top lawyer, defended JMM chief Shibu Soren in the sensational Shashinath Jha murder of 1994.

Kerala squad

In his capacity as JOA chief, R.K. Anand on Monday said only those names vetted by them would be eligible for the 35th National Games in Kerala in early 2015. 'Only the JOA's decision will be final with regard to the state's representation. The sports department or any other body doesn't have any role to play,' he said to clear the air on the impasse between JOA, sports department and non-affiliated sports outfits on training camps, player selection, among others.