Kalmadi,as the Indian Olympic Association,signed an agreement to bring the Formula One Grand Prix to India in 2007. Later that year,the UK-based organizers Formula One Administration Limited signed a ₹ 16 billion (equivalent to₹48 billionorUS$560 million in 2023) contract in this regard with India-based JPSK Sports Private Limited. Records obtained by The Indian Express showed that Pune-based Sulba Realty Private Limited was a 13% shareholder in JPSK,along with Jaypee Group (74%). Kalmadi's son Sumeer was a director in Sulba Realty at the time,which would have implied a conflict of interest. While the JP in JPSK stood for Jaypee Group,it was alleged that the SK was a reference to Suresh/Sumeer Kalmadi. Records from the Registrar of Companies,India showed that a year after the company was floated,Kalmadi's daughter,Payal Aditya Bhartia,and his son-in-law,Aditya Bhartia,joined JPSK as independent directors. [12]
Commonwealth Games 2010
Kalmadi's conduct around the 2010 Commonwealth Games came under scrutiny, with the Central Vigilance Commission (India's anti-corruption organisation) asking the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe certain aspects of the games' organisation. [13] For this, the opposition demanded Kalmadi's resignation. [14]
On 2 August 2010, Suresh Kalmadi had bought hundreds of Air Conditioners for ₹4,00,000 and treadmills for ₹9,00,000 for the Commonwealth games and the sports facilities of Indian players. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) blames agencies under the Delhi government and the sports ministry for large-scale procedural violations and corruption. [15]
On 25 April 2011, CBI arrested former CWG Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi in the Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) case. He was arrested under Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. [16]
On 20 May 2011, CBI filed the first chargesheet in a special CBI court against Kalmadi. The CBI alleged that he was the main accused in awarding TSR system contract to a Swiss firm. The charge sheet said, "Kalmadi is the main accused as he was the person with all supreme powers. He had the supreme over-riding powers in the Organising Committee of the CWG, 2010." In addition to Kalmadi, the CBI named two companies and eight persons including OC former Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and former Director General VK Verma as accused. [17] [18]
Kalmadi's membership of the Indian National Congress Party was suspended after being arrested and charged with corruption. On 26 April 2011 he was sacked from the post of president of the Indian Olympic Association. [19] On 1 July 2013 he lost the election for the post of president of the Asian Athletics Association, a post which he had held for 13 consecutive years, losing to Qatar's Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad. [20]
Suresh Kalmadi was in jail for 10 months and the court asked him to pay a surety amount of ₹500,000 (equivalent to ₹940,000orUS$11,000 in 2023). [21] Kalmadi was allowed by a Delhi court on 13 July 2012 to go to London for 2012 Olympics. [22] He was, however, restrained on 25 July 2012 by the Delhi High court from participating in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, saying his participation can cause "embarrassment" to the nation. [23]
He claimed to be suffering from dementia during course of investigation while in Tihar jail. [24] Medical tests were not conclusive to be able to prove his claim. [25]
