New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI): Suresh Kalmadi was today 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 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 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.

He said that it had also been decided to Lalit Bhanot from the position of Secretary General of the Organising Committee and from the position of Secretary General, Executive Board of the Organizing Committee with immediate effect with directions to handover charge to Jarnail Singh until further orders.