Suresh Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot sacked from Commonwealth Games Organising Committee
Decision to remove Kalmadi and Bhanot was taken by Sports Minister Ajay Maken in the interest of impartial probe.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: Suresh Kalmadi was on Monday sacked as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee in the interest of impartial and unhindered investigations into allegations of corruptions in conducting the mega event.
Lalit Bhanot has also been removed as the Secretary General of the Organising Committee. The move comes three months after the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games was clouded by allegations of corruption.
The decision to remove the two top officials was taken by the new Sports Minister Ajay Maken, barely five days after taking charge of the ministry.
Maken said that both Kalmadi and Bhanot have been removed in light of the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over allegations of corruption and irregularities in organisation and conduct of Commonwealth Games.
"In the light of the concerns expressed by the CBI and in the interest of impartial and unhindered investigations, it has been decided to remove Kalmadi from the position of the Chairman of the Organizing Committee and the position of Chairman, Executive Board of the organizing, CWG, with immediate effect", Maken said.
Kalmadi, a Congress member of Lok Sabha from Pune has been directed to handover charge to Jarnail Singh, Chief Executive Office of the Organizing Committee, who is also a Member of the OC's Executive Board, he said.
In November, Congress axed Kalmadi as secretary of its Parliamentary Party, seeking to distance itself from him in the wake of allegations of corruption.
Soon after the completion of the Games, Congress had left Kalmadi to fend for himself declining to give a clean chit to him or others associated with organisation of the Games.
Reports state that Kalmadi could be called for a fresh round of questioning by the CBI.
When questioned about his involvement in the alleged irregularities committed in organising the Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi pleaded his innocence, while passing the buck on to the other agencies.
Lalit Bhanot has also been removed as the Secretary General of the Organising Committee. The move comes three months after the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games was clouded by allegations of corruption.
The decision to remove the two top officials was taken by the new Sports Minister Ajay Maken, barely five days after taking charge of the ministry.
Maken said that both Kalmadi and Bhanot have been removed in light of the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over allegations of corruption and irregularities in organisation and conduct of Commonwealth Games.
"In the light of the concerns expressed by the CBI and in the interest of impartial and unhindered investigations, it has been decided to remove Kalmadi from the position of the Chairman of the Organizing Committee and the position of Chairman, Executive Board of the organizing, CWG, with immediate effect", Maken said.
Kalmadi, a Congress member of Lok Sabha from Pune has been directed to handover charge to Jarnail Singh, Chief Executive Office of the Organizing Committee, who is also a Member of the OC's Executive Board, he said.
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In November, Congress axed Kalmadi as secretary of its Parliamentary Party, seeking to distance itself from him in the wake of allegations of corruption.
Soon after the completion of the Games, Congress had left Kalmadi to fend for himself declining to give a clean chit to him or others associated with organisation of the Games.
Reports state that Kalmadi could be called for a fresh round of questioning by the CBI.
When questioned about his involvement in the alleged irregularities committed in organising the Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi pleaded his innocence, while passing the buck on to the other agencies.
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