Sports minister asks IOA to elect new president

Apr 25, 2011 |

IANS

New Delhi

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Sports minister Ajay Maken on Monday directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to select a new president after the CBI arrested Suresh Kalmadi, former chairman of Commonwealth Games organising committee, for alleged irregularities in the contracts awarded for the 2010 mega event.

"Things are moving to their logical conclusion. Now we will ask the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to select a new president as someone like Mr. Kalmadi, who will be charge sheeted and be arrested, cannot continue leading the IOA. We will ask the IOA secretary general to host the elections soon," said Maken.

The sports minister's comments came on a day IOA president Kalmadi was arrested for the alleged irregularities in the preparations for the October 2010 Commonwealth Games here. "It is up to the IOA to take a step for the best the interest of the country. The IOA president represents the country and somebody who is charge sheeted cannot serve the purpose.

I am hopeful that sports ministry's steps will also be backed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)," he said. Maken said the sports ministry will also consult the attorney general to see if it can take any action on its own. "We will also take advice from our attorney general to see if we can take action on our own to conduct fresh elections in the IOA," he said. Kalmadi was arrested after he was questioned by the CBI on the alleged irregularities relating to contracts awarded in connection with the Commonwealth Games.

After thrice skipping questioning, Kalmadi appeared at the CBI headquarters here on Monday morning. Kalmadi was summoned to the CBI headquarters April 15 but had to go out of city on that day. He was then called on Tuesday, April 19, but could not make it either. Yet again, he failed to appear before the CBI for questioning April 20, saying he was unwell.

Kalmadi's aides, including Lalit Bhanot, who served as the secretary general of the organising committee, and V.K. Verma, who was its director general, were arrested earlier. Kalmadi was earlier questioned for the alleged irregularities in hiring AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited during the Queen's Baton Relay in 2009. The Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi Oct 3-14 in 2010.

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