Suresh Kalmadi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Kalmadi passed away in Pune early morning today. Kalmadi was struggling with a prolonged illness.
Who is Suresh Kalmadi?
The 81-year-old former President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had served as Union Minister of State for Indian Railways. Born on 1 May 1944, Suresh went on to complete his early schooling in Pune before pursuing undergraduate studies at Fergusson College in Pune. Later, he attended the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla. Kalmadi underwent specialized aviation training at the Air Force Flying College in Prayagraj and Jodhpur.
Political Entry of Suresh Kalmadi
Kalmadi entered electoral politics in 1982. He was elected as an independent member from the state of Maharashtra to the Rajya Sabha after being backed by the Congress faction led by Sharad Pawar.
Kalmadi served as the Indian Youth Congress (Socialist) President from 1981 to 1986. In 1986, Congress (S) joined hands with the Indian National Congress (INC).
During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi masterminded a massive corruption network of approximately ₹70,000 crore. He was accused of inflated contracts, favouritism, and misuse of funds, fake invoicing and providing substandard facilities.
He was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2011 under Section 120B (Criminal conspiracy), Section 420 (Cheating) and additional charges for forgery and abuse of power.
Kalmadi may have gone but the sporting system in India is still often accused of the misuse of power, substandard facilities, favouritism and money before everything else.