The Central government on Friday asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) not to facilitate Suresh Kalmadi’s visit to London to attend the Olympic Games.
A letter from the Sports Ministry was dispatched to IOA Secretary-General Randhir Singh.
This followed a Delhi court ruling earlier in the day that Mr. Kalmadi could go to London. Special CBI judge Talwant Singh allowed his application to visit London from July 26 to August 13 and asked him to furnish a bond of Rs.10 lakh and a surety for a like amount.
Mr. Kalmadi is the main accused in the CWG Timing, Scoring, Results System contract scam case.
Joint Secretary Onkar Kedia wrote to the IOA: “Taking into consideration the serious charges levelled against Shri Kalmadi in the matters relating to [the] conduct of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and that the court is still seized of the matter, the Ministry requests that the Indian Olympic Association, on ethical grounds, should not facilitate or sponsor the visit of Shri Kalmadi to London in any manner including air travel, lodging and boarding (sic) in London and giving tickets for witnessing the opening and closing ceremonies and sports competitions of the London Olympics... ”
The Ministry urged the IOA to take up the matter with the International Olympic Committee and the International Association of Athletics Federations, of which Mr. Kalmadi is a Council member.
