Suresh Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot sacked by sports ministry

The Union sports ministry on Monday decided to remove Suresh Kalmadi and Lalit Bhanot as the chairman and secretary general of the organizing committee of the Commonwealth Games.

Sports minister Ajay Maken said that the duo have been sacked with immediate effect and the step was taken in the light of the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over allegations of corruption and irregularities in organization and conduct of Commonwealth Games

“The concerns expressed by the CBI and in the interest of impartial and unhindered investigations, Kalmadi has been directed to handover charge to the Jarnail Singh, chief executive officer, Organizing Committee, who is also a member of the executive board,” said Maken in a statement.

“The move comes in light of the ongoing investigation by the CBI over allegations of corruption and irregularities in organization and conduct of Commonwealth Games, 2010 and the concerns expressed by the CBI and in the interest of impartial and unhindered investigations,” he added.