Newly-appointed Union sports minister Ajay Maken on Monday sacked the chairman of the scandal-ridden Commonwealth Games organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, who along with committee members faces corruption charges over the conduct of the Games.
Mr Kalmadi’s close aide Lalit Bhanot was also removed as OC secretary-general with immediate effect three months after the Games ended.
Mr Maken said he decided to remove the two to ensure a fair investigation into corruption allegations related to the event. The Games had descended into complete chaos, salvaged only by a last-minute scramble by the government.
Both Mr Kalmadi and Mr Bhanot had refused to quit when the scandals erupted in the run-up to the event, saying they had not done anything wrong.
Mr Maken told reporters Monday afternoon: “The move comes in light of the ongoing investigation by the CBI over allegations of corruption and irregularities in the organisation and conduct of the Games... The CBI had asked for removal of Kalmadi and others. The CBI had made some strong observations against Kalmadi.”
The CBI has so far registered four FIRs, naming some of Mr Kalmadi’s close aides for alleged criminal conspiracy and financial irregularities in executing certain contracts.
The CBI had also questioned both Mr Kalmadi and Mr Bhanot and had raided their offices and residences in connection with the probe.