I'm ready for judicial probe, now: Suresh Kalmadi

It was early in the morning but Suresh Kalmadi was already looking tired and tense. The never-ending reports on corruption and mismanagement - which the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chairman calls "drummed-up campaign" - have probably taken their toll.
Kalmadi spoke to TOI on the recent scandals regarding the Queens Baton Relay, the SMAM contract and a host of other charges against him and OC. Excerpts from an interview:

Two OC officials have been suspended now in the Queen's Baton relay scandal but the ministry had said they should be removed. Why have you ignored the ministry's advice? Besides, you had reinstated TS Darbari despite the Customs case against him. Why?

Darbari was not reinstated. He had not been suspended, he was sent on leave (in February). In the Kochi Customs case, Darbari was called by the Customs to give a statement.

He came back in April and showed us a letter from Customs which stated that he was there as a witness and that he had not been charged. I again wrote to chief of Customs to ask if there was any charge. I just could not take him off.

Then his name figured in the AM Films case...

Yes, now his name has figured in that case regarding forged e-mails. Darbari and Mahendroo and Jeychandran were at the Queen's Baton Relay and they did a good job. But when this thing came up, I went to meet external affairs minister SM Krishna to confirm the facts.

I found that there was indeed a difference in the e-mails sent by Darbari and Mahendroo and the one given by MEA. I formed a three-member committee, which submitted its report and we suspended the officials. The matter has now been referred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Who is responsible for doctoring the e-mail?

I don't know. I can't hang anybody without knowing the truth.

Your response to most of the negative stories in the media has been to say that the blame lies with other agencies, not with OC. Now that three of your own officials have faced suspension, is that a tenable position?

There might be cases that are coming up but we are dealing with it severely. We have suspended these people. There's no question of shielding anybody.

But I must tell you I'm only responsible for organizing the Games. Right now, there's a CVC report which has not blamed me anywhere. The agencies which have been blamed have to give answers to that. I will take responsibility for my part, for my budget of Rs 1600 crore.

What about SMAM?

The contract was formulated five years back. The deal was cleared by OC's executive board, which made the government of Delhi look into it.

It was approved after that. The same SMAM was in Melbourne and Manchester. But our complaint these last six months was that they were not collecting enough money. We decided we had to terminate the contract and try to raise money on our own.

Cancelling the contract before August 1 was not possible, because the procedure was very lengthy. Our legal people pointed out that we could give a three-day notice to terminate the contract after August 1, which we did. But we have terminated it only on grounds of non-performance. There's nothing wrong in the contract.

But they could have been given commission on money they had not raised?

We have not paid them a penny. Their cut was 15, 20, 23 per cent, depending on the slab. Anyway, I have no independent financial authority, so the contract was not my personal decision. It was cleared at the executive board level.

You have blamed Mani Shankar Aiyar for delaying the preparations of the Games during his tenure as sports minister. But OC has delayed things too like catering, merchandising. Who is accountable for these delays?

OC. I'll accept it. As for catering in the Village, we floated a tender and only one bid came. When we refloated the tender only one group came up again and quoted a higher rate. We could not do anything about it.

There are just a few groups that can handle catering on this scale. One group went to the Asian Games in Guangzhou and another went to the World Youth Games in Singapore.

How did Guangzhou, Singapore get caterers in advance? Didn't they plan much earlier?

Yes, this may be true but those caterers were probably more interested in going there. They may have decided between themselves, like a cartel.

What about in-stadia catering?

It's not my personal decision. A committee of 15 people takes a joint decision. The members pointed out that the rates were very high (Rs 500 per head). We decided that Rs 150-200 would be justified. We have issued a fresh tender.

Didn't IRCTC come up with a package of Rs 150 per head?

I was keen on the IRCTC thing as the money could have been adjusted through the sponsorship we are getting from them. But IRCTC's food packet did not have adequate content - it was not enough food for volunteers. The new deal should be signed in 15 days.

Things that are coming out about treadmills, toilet paper - these too are the OC's responsibility. What is the explanation for the exorbitant amount of money paid?

As for toilet papers, the Rs 3,750 mentioned as the rate for one roll in media reports is the price for a box of 100 toilet paper rolls. As for treadmill, this is a special treadmill... not available in Delhi.

But suppliers of treadmills admitted they are hiring them locally for Rs 1 lakh and charging the OC almost ten times more. We are no longer hiring them, the venue owners are purchasing them.

You have complained about other agencies involved in the Games.

Others have complained, I have never complained. In fact, we have world class infrastructure. In the Games Village, a great job has been done. Test events have proved Field of Play areas are ready. Venue overlays will be done in time.

My problem is that infrastructure has been delayed a lot. We have to do the overlays, set up training camps etc. I'm not complaining but we should have got the stadia six months back. There are just 40 days for Games Village to be opened. Whatever is happening in the media is distracting.

But you have differences with sports minister MS Gill

We have only differed on tenure guidelines, not CWG. I'm saying we should have discussions on that but only after the Games. I didn't want this disturbance at this time.

The focus right now is on scandals, murky deals etc. Don't you think that in the larger interest of the country you should step down?

We have been working for the past seven years when we got the Games. Now, most of the things are falling into place, I'm not going to run away. I have made a commitment to international community and the people of India that we will have good Games. Now, with 40 days left, I can't run away. No one can organise these Games now. Let there be a probe.

I have done nothing wrong. Why should I quit due to the media's drummed-up campaign. Let there be a probe a judicial probe. It can start now, I'm ready for it. It does not have to wait till after the Games.

But OC treasurer Anil Khanna resigned?

Just because he perceived something was wrong and he resigned does not mean I will resign too at this stage.

Khanna said he stopped signing cheques in May? What did he see was so wrong in OC that he quit?
Things are perfectly right in OC. If things were bad why would AK Mattoo come back? If Khanna has done something... he has resigned. That's his call.

Is Khanna guilty?

I don't know. What I know is OC is not guilty.

Sports ministry has said govt will not bid for Asiad 2019...

If govt is not keen, we are not keen either. I don't want to organize any more sporting events till I clear my name.

Do you feel let down by your party (Congress)?

We got these Games when BJP was in power. Our party continued, gave all support, all money. But this is basically an Indian Olympic Association (IOA) function. IOA has elected me as the chairman of OC and I'm doing my best. Whatever is happening, the party is not involved but yes, it is supporting us.

In 1982, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were fully and publicly behind Buta Singh. Now, we don't see the same support from Sonia Gandhi and others.

The PM has given full support. He has given for the first time Rs 600 crore for training. Athletes are getting better food, foreign exposure and scientific support for athletes. Mrs Gandhi also was responsible in getting the Games here.