The Union sports ministry is mulling sacking Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi if the top body of Indian sports fails to remove him from the post. Mr Kalmadi was on Monday arrested by the CBI on charges of cheating, conspiracy and corruption in connection with awarding some Games contracts. Sports minister Ajay
Maken on Monday said that it will not be in the national interest that he should represent the country anymore. Mr Maken also expressed hope that the CBI will take action against “all those people found guilty by the Shunglu committee’’. Notably, the committee has questioned the soft approach and delay on the part of the Shiela Dikshit government in Delhi in executing the Commonwealth Games projects undertaken by it.
Acting promptly, the sports ministry on Monday shot off a letter to the IOA asking it to appoint a new president replacing Mr Kalmadi. The ministry is also seeking the opinion of the attorney-general on whether the government can remove Mr Kalmadi from his post if the IOA fails to act. Apprising the IOA secretary general of the turn of events, the ministry said that the former Commonwealth Games OC chairman has been arrested on charges of “conspiracy, cheating and theft’’. “In keeping with and maintaining the fair image of sports in India, the government will like the IOA to consider appointing an alternate president in place of the present incumbent for managing the affairs of the IOA. The government may be kept informed of the action taken,” the ministry said in its letter.