IOC: What are charges against Kalmadi?

Virtually accusing the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), also known as National Olympic Committee (NOC), of trying to stonewall a scrutiny of charges against the former IOA president, Suresh Kalmadi, International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sought information on charges effectively filed against Mr. Kalmadi and any other member of the IOA.

Pere Miro, director, NOC Relations, IOC, wrote on January 31 that despite repeated requests to IOA to inform it of the situation around Mr. Kalmadi, no such action has been taken. The Hindu has the copy of the letter.

Interestingly, IOA is presently headed by senior BJP leader V.K. Malhotra.

In the letter written from Lausanne, which was in reply to a letter written by IOA on January 19 to IOC president Jacques Rogge informing him of the Delhi High Court granting bail to Mr. Kalmadi, the IOC states: “In view of this document, it is our understanding that a ‘charge sheet' was filed on May 20, 2011. We would therefore appreciate if you could clarify to us what charges have been effectively filed against Mr. Kalmadi [and any other officer or member of your NOC, since it appears that other members are also concerned by legal cases before the courts of justice].”

Indicating the attempts by IOA to sidetrack the issue, it further states: “In addition, it came to our knowledge that the Ethics Commission to the Indian Olympic Association apparently took some decisions in early December 2011 with respect to the case of Mr. Kalmadi and two other officers of your NOC. In spite of our repeated requests for you to inform the IOC of the situation as a whole, we were never informed of such action by your NOC. Therefore, in order to get a better understanding of the situation, we would be grateful if you could provide us with all related information and documents concerning this issue.”

It states: “Lastly, we understand from your January 23 letter that a meeting of your NOC Executive Board is expected to take place urgently to discuss the overall situation and our letters. We presume that, if the Ethics Commission to the Indian Olympic Association has already taken some measures, this meeting of your NOC Executive Board would also have to review these measures and consider taking appropriate action.”

Concluding the letter, it said, “In addition, and having in mind that you already discussed the majority of the issues above mentioned during your NOC General Assembly meeting that was held on December 15, 2011, we would be very grateful if you could send us a copy of the minutes and outcomes of this meeting.”