Kalmadi points finger at Ministry

 A day after the arrest of two of his close aides, the sacked organising committee chairman expressed shock and displeasure over the way the entire matter has been handled by the investigating agencies when all the documents pertaining to the conduct of the Games were with them.

Asked whether he anticipated arrest any time, Kalmadi ended a press conference abruptly saying “Let’s see”. “I would like to state that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been a party to the decision at every step and I don’t understand why only the organising committee is being singled out for questioning by investigating agencies,” Kalmadi told newsmen reading out from a written statement.

“The executive board (of the organising committee) comprised two officers from government of India, two from Delhi government, three officials from Commonwealth federations and then IOA people, including myself and Ranbir. So it was a very balanced team, and all decisions have been taken unanimously. There has been no case that we (OC and Sports ministry) differed. All (decisions) have been approved by the executive board. I am surprised that the investigating agencies are calling the officials of the organising committee and no government official is being called,” Kalmadi said.

Former OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot and director general V K Verma were arrested on Wednesday by the CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in the Rs 107 crore deal inked with a Swiss timing firm.