The Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday annulled its decision to appoint Suresh Kalmadi (pictured above) and Abhay Chautala their life presidents. “No resolution to appoint Abhay Chautala and Suresh Kalmadi as life presidents was passed in the Chennai AGM [annual general meeting],” IOA President N Ramachandran told ANI.
This comes after the IOA had appointed Kalmadi and Chautala to the posts on December 27 last year. Sports Minister Vijay Goel had said that he was “shocked” and added that he would seek a report on the appointments. “Both [Kalmadi and Chautala] are facing serious corruption charges,” he had said.
Kalmadi was accused of corruption while handing out contracts for the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi in 2010. He was arrested and later granted bail in the case. Kalmadi was formerly a member of the Congress.
The scam had attracted much international media coverage as well, especially after facilities for sportspersons at the Games was found unsatisfactory. The Central Bureau of Investigation had probed the scam and filed a chargesheet in connection with it, naming Kalmadi and others, in 2011.
Kalmadi has been accused of giving out inflated contracts for the Games, including one worth Rs 141 crore to Swiss Timing for equipment. The deal was inflated by Rs 95 crore. Other colleagues of Kalmadi’s, Lalit Bhanot and VK Verma, were also arrested in connection with the case. Sheila Dikshit, who was Delhi chief minister at the time, had refuted allegations of corruption against her government and claimed, “Everything was done keeping in mind the national interest and prestige.”
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