Suresh Kalmadi given permission to attend London Olympics

Sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, accused in a games-related graft case, has been granted permission to attend London Olympics from July 26 to August 13.

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Sports Minister Ajay Maken, however, has slammed the decision and said: "Kalmadi doesn't deserve to attend the Olympics."

Yesterday, Kalmadi had sought a Delhi court's permission to attend the London Games. He has been asked to give a bond of Rs 10 lakh by the special CBI court.

Kalmadi's counsel assured the court that he would be present for every hearing (during Kalmadi's absence) and would not seek adjournments.

In his plea to Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh, Kalmadi had said that he is a member of International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Council and Asian Athletics Association and sought permission to go to the United Kingdom for the games from July 26 to August 13.

"Applicant (Kalmadi), in his capacity, as a member of the IAAF Council and as president of Asian Athletics Association (AAA), is required to attend certain meetings, conferences and matters of the IAAF during the London 2012 Olympics from July 26 to August 13," Kalmadi had said in his application.

The Lok Sabha MP and 10 others have been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly "illegally" awarding contract to install Timing, Scoring and Results (TSR) system for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to Swiss Timing, causing a loss of over Rs. 90 crore to the exchequer.

He also placed on record the invitation from IAAF Council and the general programme schedule of the Olympics and details of travel ticket sent to him by the association's General Secretary Essar Gabriel.

"Therefore, the applicant is hereby seeking permission of this court to travel abroad for this purpose," he said.

Kalmadi had said arguments on charges were over and that he was willing to abide by all conditions imposed by the court.

Earlier, he had been given permission to travel to Kazakastan for similar meetings.

(With PTI inputs)