Pressure mounts on Kalmadi to begin cleansing operation

Rocked by allegations of wide-scale corruption, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) will hold an emergency meeting of its Executive Board in New Delhi on Thursday amid indications that a clean-up process could be started. The three-member panel set up to inquire into allegations of corruption against the of the CWG OC will also submit its report on Thursday. Flashback: 1982 ASIAD no different

The meeting was called by the OC's embattled chairman Suresh Kalmadi following a demand from some of his own influential colleagues, including IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh who said the allegations of financial irregularities were "grave".

With the credibility of the OC taking a severe beating with more and more scandals coming out in the past few days, there is intense pressure on Kalmadi to start the cleansing operation.

Kalmadi, who said that he is ready to face any CAG or judicial probe into all the allegations, will have a lot of answering to do at the Board meeting with many of his colleagues pressing for stern action against those guilty.

A top source in the OC said that some members will press for the immediate ouster of Deputy Director General T S Darbari, whose name has figured in the investigations into alleged irregularities into services provided during the Queen's Baton Relay in London.

The Sports Ministry had also sought Darbari's removal ever since his alleged customs violations were first reported in the newspapers.

Kalmadi was forced to call the meeting after some of his top colleagues said the allegations needed to be discussed immediately.

In a letter to Kalmadi, Randhir, who is also the OC Vice-Chairman, said the meeting should be called immediately considering the gravity of the allegations.

"In pursuance to media reports about financial irregularities alleged in the Queen's Baton Relay at the Buckingham Palace, since the situation is grave, the discussion should be held immediately," Randhir had said in his letter.

Randhir was supported by OC treasurer Anil Khanna and IOA vice-president V K Malhotra, who also wanted an immediate meeting to discuss all the unsavoury developments.

Kalmadi's own image has taken a hit after the Ministry of External Affairs revealed that the e-mail from the Indian High Commission he made public to justify payments to a UK-based company was 'doctored'.

Kalmadi met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and was confronted with the genuine e-mail from the High Commission in UK which did not mention the name of the company, A M Films, which was given a sum of over Rs three crore for providing services during the Queen's Baton Relay in London.

Under intense pressure from the government, the Organising Committee formed a three-member panel to probe the allegations of irregular financial transactions.

The panel comprises Jarnail Singh (OC Chief Executive Officer), G C Chaturvedi (Special Director General- Finance), and Gurjyot Kaur (Chief Vigilance Officer). The Committee will submit its report by Thursday.