Indian law does not bar chargesheeted persons: IOA to IOC

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New Delhi: Stung by International Olympic Committee's directive to bar charge-sheeted persons from contesting elections, Indian Olympic Association today shot off a letter to its parent body, saying that it cannot implement these provisions as it has to follow the law of the country.
The IOC had yesterday sent the revised draft Constitution of the IOA which envisages barring of corruption-tainted persons from contesting IOA elections and had asked the national apex body to revert back today if they have any objection or comments.
"To be eligible as an office-bearer or member of the Executive Council, a member must: be a citizen of India; be in full possession of his/her civil rights; not face charges framed against him/her by any court in India, in respect of a criminal or corruption offense which would be punishable with imprisonment if he/she was convicted; not have been convicted of any criminal or corruption offense," the IOC had said.
This provision will effectively mean that officials like Suresh Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot and V K Verma who had been chargesheeted in connection with 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, will not be able to contest IOA elections.
It is learnt that the IOA sent a letter to the IOC today pointing out that the law in India does not bar charge-sheeted persons from contesting even Parliamentary elections. "We have written a letter to the IOC in reply to the revised draft, saying that we are bound by the law of the land. We have written that in India, chargesheeted persons can contest even Parliamentary elections," a top IOA official told PTI.
"If chargesheeted persons can contest Parliamentary elections, how can it be that they cannot contest IOA elections. A person is innocent till he is convicted," he added.