The Delhi High Court on Wednesday barred fired Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, from attending the inaugural ceremony of the London Olympics slated to begin on Friday.
Restraining him from participating in the ceremony, a Division Bench of the court comprising Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said: “His participation can cause embarrassment to the country.”
The Bench also directed Mr. Kalmadi not leave the country till July 27. He was scheduled to leave for London on July 26 previously.
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The Bench passed the order on a petition by an advocate urging the court to restrain Mr. Kalmadi from attending the Olympics as his presence there would cause an embarrassment, and be extremely demoralising for the Indian athletes as he was facing prosecution on criminal charges of corruption, conspiracy, and cheating as a sports administrator.
The petitioner submitted that he would be representing India at the Olympics in his capacity as president of the Indian Olympic Association, president of the Asian Athletic Association, and Council member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
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Kalmadi’s take
Mr. Kalmadi had opposed the petition submitting that he was going to the Olympics in his individual capacity.
A CBI court earlier this month allowed Mr. Kalmadi to visit London to participate in the Olympics.