Suresh Kalmadi Dies at 81: Congress Leader Linked to Commonwealth Games Scam

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Suresh Kalmadi passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He died in Pune, Maharashtra, sources said.

According to a statement from his office, Kalmadi’s mortal remains will be kept at Kalmadi House in Pune’s Erandwane area until 2 pm. His last rites are scheduled to be held at Vaikunth smashanbhumi at 3.30 pm.

Kalmadi is survived by his wife, a son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters and a son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Early political career

Kalmadi began his political career in 1977 as president of the Indian Youth Congress in Pune. A year later, he became president of the Maharashtra Youth Congress, a post he held until 1980.

In 1980, he took charge as president of the Maharashtra Athletics Association. During his tenure, Pune hosted selection trials for Indian athletes competing in the Moscow Olympics.

Parliamentary career

Kalmadi entered Parliament in 1982 as a member of the Rajya Sabha and went on to serve three additional terms. In 1996, he was elected to the Lok Sabha during the tenure of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and served as Minister of State for Railways from 1995 to 1996.

IOA presidency and controversies

In 1996, Kalmadi became president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), a position he held until 2012. He also served as president of the Asian Athletics Association from 2000 to 2013 and was later named its Life President in 2015.

In 2007, Kalmadi signed an agreement to bring Formula One racing to India. Subsequent reports revealed that the contract was signed with JPSK Sports Private Limited, in which 13 per cent of shares were held by Pune-based Sulba Realty Private Limited, a firm where his son was a director.

Kalmadi’s career was overshadowed by controversy following the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, which came under intense scrutiny over alleged corruption and mismanagement.

In April 2011, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Kalmadi, then chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, in the Timing, Scoring and Results (TSR) case under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. He spent around 10 months in Tihar Jail.

Following the scandal, Kalmadi was suspended from the Indian National Congress and removed as president of the IOA.