Monday, April 25, 2011

Police arrest India Games chief

Suresh Kalmadi outside his Delhi home on 24 December 2010Suresh Kalmadi has denied all allegations of corruption
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The chief organiser of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi has been arrested following an investigation into allegations of corruption.

Suresh Kalmadi was removed from his post in January.

Police say he will be charged with conspiracy regarding the awarding of commercial contracts for the Games - he denies any wrongdoing.

The build-up to the Games, held in the capital in October, was marred by allegations of sleaze and incompetence.

A spokesman for India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Mr Kalmadi was arrested "for conspiracy to cause favour to a company in Switzerland while procuring timers and scoring equipment for the Games".

Other charges related to the contracts for a 2009 event in London which marked the start of a baton race across Commonwealth countries, say reports.

Mr Kalmadi is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. If found guilty he could face years in prison.

In February, organising committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and another top official, VK Verma, were arrested and accused of financial irregularities linked to the Games.

The Games cost several billion dollars to stage. But far from showcasing the best of India as had been hoped, the event was damaged by delays, sub-standard building work and persistent allegations of widespread corruption.

The budget for the event ballooned to an estimated $6bn (£3.87bn) - with India's federal corruption commission receiving complaints alleging that up to $1.8bn (£1.08bn) of Games money was misappropriated.

The row over the Games is one of a series of corruption scandals that has rocked India in recent months.

Some of the recent corruption scandals to have angered Indians include a multi-billion dollar alleged telecoms scam and allegations that houses for war widows were diverted to civil servants.

Earlier this year, the head of the country's anti-corruption watchdog was forced by the Supreme Court to resign, on the grounds that he himself faced corruption charges.

The scandals prompted Indian social activist Anna Hazare to go on a four-day-long hunger strike to push for stringent new anti-corruption laws.

There were demonstrations across India in support of his call and the government eventally agreed to his demands.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-13186190

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