New Delhi, Apr 25 (IANS): Suresh Kalmadi, former chief of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, was arrested Monday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged financial irregularities in the run-up to India's biggest international sporting event.
Kalmadi, a Congress MP and president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was arrested after nearly a day-long questioning by the CBI at its headquarters here.
CBI spokesperson Dharni Mishra told reporters that Kalmadi was arrested for buying TSR (timing scoring and result) equipment from a Swiss firm at exorbitant rates causing a loss of Rs.141 crore.
She said the Games contract was given by "wrongfully restricting and eliminating competition from other suppliers in pre-meditated manner".
This was the fourth time that Kalmadi, a high-profile sports administrator, was interrogated by the CBI sleuths for alleged conspiracy and overspending of public money in holding the mega games.
The Commonwealth Games were the biggest sporting event in India after the Asian Games in 1982.
The Oct 3-14, 2010 event drew some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries but was marred by controversies -- over shoddy work, delays and graft.
Mishra said Kalmadi would be brought before a CBI special court in Patiala House Tuesday to seek his police custody for further interrogation in the alleged scam.
Also arrested Monday were two more officials of the organising committee, Sujit Lal and A.S.V. Prasad. Lal was the deputy director general (procurement) and Prasad was the joint direct general (sports) in the committee.
A total of 13 CWG Organising Committee members, including Lalit Bhanot, former secretary general of the committee, and V.K. Verma, who was its director general, have been arrested till now.
Meanwhile, the ruling Congress denied the opposition charge that there had been a delay in prosecuting the accused or anyone was being shielded.
Party spokesman Manish Tewari said: "The UPA government has let the law take its own course. It has showed sensitivity to the issue in direct contrast to the BJP."
On expected lines, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the arrests but said it was too late.
"He (Kalmadi) is only the tip of the iceberg," BJP chief Nitin Gadkari told reporters, adding that the decisions relating to the Games spending were taken by the cabinet and the group of ministers formed for the event.
"The CBI should act against all those who were involved in the event," he said.
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar demanded action "against Delhi Chief Minister (Sheila Dikshit) and other senior bureaucrats involved in the loot".
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) also reacted similarly. "Why they have not taken action against the big people involved," Brinda Karat asked.
Dikshit, whose government oversaw the infrastructure development related to the Games, had "no comments" to offer.
Kalmadi might lose his top post at IOA too.
Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken said the IOA president "represents the country and somebody who is charge sheeted cannot serve the purpose".
"We will ask the Indian Olympic Association to select a new president as someone like Mr. Kalmadi cannot continue leading the IOA. We will ask the IOA secretary general to host the elections soon," said Maken.
Kalmadi was earlier summoned for questioning April 15 but was abroad. He was then called April 19, but could not make it. He again failed to appear before the CBI April 20, saying he was unwell.
Kalmadi was earlier questioned in connection with alleged irregularities in hiring AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited during the Queen's Baton Relay in 2009.