Former president of the Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi was today interrogated as a witness in connection with a multi-crore scam in the 34th National Games that was organized in February 2011. Kalmadi was served notice as a witness to testify before the vigilance bureau in the four-year-old case and is likely to be called once again to stand face-to-face with persons he named during the interrogation.
"I have come here as a witness. I am not an accused," said Kalmadi while leaving the premises of the Vigilance Bureau after the interrogation.
Kalmadi faced a set of questionnaires prepared by the bureau sleuths and based on the information shared the bureau is likely to serve him a notice again. However, Kalmadi's next appearance will most likely be a moment where he will be confronted with people whose names cropped up during the interrogation.
Notably, Kalmadi was the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) and is also an accused in the CGOC graft case.
"Whatever he has said will be examined and most probably he will be called once again. He will be confronted with people he named during the interrogation in his next appearance," said an official requesting anonymity.
Besides Kalmadi, the bureau had also served notice to former Joint Director (Sports) of 2010 CGOC, ASV Prasad, to testify before the bureau which is investigating the case of irregularity in the 34th National Games organized at Ranchi. However, Prasad did not turn up because of his poor health.
Earlier, Kalmadi arrived at the bureau's office at 12 noon and left the premises at 2.30pm after an intensive interrogation process led by Additional Vigilance SP Anand Joseph Tigga. The interrogation was made in connection with a complaint registered by Bhola Singh, incumbent president of Hockey Jharkhand, with the bureau in September 2009 against the NGOC. The FIR was lodged by the Vigilance Bureau in October 2010 against NGOC working chairman RK Anand, NGOC secretary SM Hashmi, former sports director PC Mishra and NGOC treasurer Madhukant Pathak.
While Hashmi and Mishra have been arrested by the bureau, Pathak was called for questioning in the case which was registered for financial irregularities and embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rs 50 crore.