Hearing put off on Kalmadi's plea to attend parliament

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A Delhi court on Monday deferred the hearing on a plea of former Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) chief Suresh Kalmadi for permission to attend the monsoon session of parliament starting August 1.

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court presided over by Judge Talwant Singh posted the matter for July 28 after Kalmadi's counsel told the court that he needed time to continue his argument.

Kalmadi on July 23 sought directions to jail authorities to allow him to attend the session. He also pleaded that he be allowed to travel in his private vehicle during the session.

"As the accused is from a highly respectable family and is holding a political office.. he has a clean background and cannot abscond," his application stated.

Kalmadi was arrested April 25. The CBI May 20 filed its first charge sheet in the corruption case against Kalmadi and 10 others.

The probe agency described Kalmadi as the prime accused in a case related to financial irregularities in awarding a Rs.141 crore contract for timing, scoring and result system for the October 2010 sporting event.