Fresh raids in Delhi Commonwealth Games scandal

The 2010 Commonwealth Games was the biggest sporting event in India's history

India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has raided 20 locations in connection with alleged scams during the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Searches have been carried out in the capital, Delhi, Calcutta and Siliguri in the north-east, reports say.

Police are investigating alleged irregularities in the construction of synthetic tracks in five stadiums.

The row over the Games is one of a series of corruption scandals that has rocked India in recent months.

The CBI is yet to give details of Wednesday's raids, but reports say the homes of some officials of government-controlled Delhi urban development agencies and the premises of a private sports equipment manufacturer have been searched.

The Games were meant to be Delhi's moment of glory, but the run-up to the event was mired in ugly controversies with missed deadlines and serious allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Suresh Kalmadi, the disgraced former chief of the Games, was arrested in April last year. He was accused of conspiracy regarding the awarding of commercial contracts for the Games.

He was released on bail in January. He denies any wrongdoing.

He was removed from his post in January last year.

Earlier, Mr Kalmadi was accused of "conspiracy to cause favour to a company in Switzerland while procuring timers and scoring equipment for the Games".

He was also accused of granting contracts at a 2009 event in London which marked the start of a baton race across Commonwealth countries.

Other Games officials, including VK Verma, the former director general of the organising committee, have also been accused of financial irregularities linked to the event.