New Delhi:
On a cold Delhi morning, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) turned the heat up for Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee. (
Read: Who is Suresh Kalmadi?)For eight hours, the CBI raided Mr Kalmadi's homes in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, and his office at Phoenix Mills in Mumbai. Mr Kalmadi said the raids didn't disturb his plans for the day. He had visitors in the morning at his Delhi home, he said, and he served them tea. A female CBI detective climbing down a ladder as she searched the same house may have provided some interesting tea-time conversation.
As Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Commonwealth Games, Mr Kalmadi will have to explain the foundation of corruption that the Games were built on.
After the raids,
Kalmadi said, "I am innocent till proven guilty" - not the sort of declaration that might inspire confidence among his rapidly declining supporters. He also said that he took no decision alone. (
Watch)
The CBI left for the day with a laptop, documents and some hard drives. Sources say its evidence against Mr Kalmadi will include testimony from some of the men who worked most closely with him on the Organizing Committee. Three of them were arrested a few weeks ago. One - TS Darbari - has stated that he is being served up as a scapegoat to protect bigger players - he has hinted at Mr Kalmadi, and his Deputy General, Lalit Bhanot - Secretary-General of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games.
NDTV has accessed documents that show that the Central Vigilance Commission - the watchdog for corruption- is investigating Kalmadi for multiple complaints. He is accused of hiring equipment for the Games at highly-inflated rates, he was allegedly paid kickbacks by the company that won the contract for engineering and maintenance services, and he is accused of misusing his official position for financial benefits. These charges are part of the brief for the CBI's inquiry against Kalmadi.
The CBI had recently written to the Cabinet Secretary Stating that Kalmadi and Bhanot should be dropped from the Organizing Committee because they were trying to block the CBI's investigation. In particular, the CBI shared its concern over the disappearance of critical documents that could serve as evidence against Kalmadi and company.