CWG Scam: Kalmadi sacked from Organising Committee

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New Delhi, Jan 24, 2011:  Suresh Kalmadi has been sacked as Chairman of  the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee (OC). He has been asked to hand over charge to CEO Jarnail Singh.

His deputy, Lalit Bhanot, has also been dismissed. They were reportedly fired by new Sports Minister Ajay Maken, "in the interest of an impartial probe." (Read: Government’s official statement on sacking Suresh Kalmadi)

Suresh Kalmadi has refused to comment on his removal till he gets the official letter, and said he is cooperating with the CBI in the CWG scam probe.

He, however, says he will not quit as the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).  (Watch: Won’t quit as Indian Olympic Association chief, says Kalmadi)

Kalmadi said the ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games did not have any bearing on his role as IOA President.
    
"It has nothing to do with the Indian Olympic Association. The IOA General Body meeting will be held in Ranchi on February 12", he told reporters, a couple of hours after the government sacked him as the OC Chairman.

Kalmadi refused to give a direct reply to the sudden development. "Earlier also I had said that I am ready for an enquiry and it is going on. I can’t say much", he said.

The two men, alleged to be at the center of the massive corruption that the Games were seeped in, have been raided by the CBI in recent weeks.

The CBI had formally complained to the Cabinet Secretary that Kalmadi and Bhanot were trying to obstruct its inquiry to unravel the financial irregularities that seemed to caveat  virtually every contract linked to the Games.


Courtesy:NDTV