New Delhi, April 26: In a swift move following the arrest of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, the IOA executive board replaced him with senior BJP leader V.K. Malhotra.
The decision of appointing Malhotra was taken under section 13 B of the IOA’s Constitution which says that in case of prolonged absence of the IOA president, the senior vice-president will be the acting president of the IOA. Malhotra, who is the senior vice president of the IOA, was asked to take charge immediately. He will now have to convene an executive board at the earliest to formalise this decision.
The Asian Athletics Association, has, however refused to remove Kalmadi from the post of president saying that he can continue till he is convicted.
Kalmadi was on Monday arrested by the CBI for allegedly awarding a contract for the Commonwealth Games to a Swiss company at a higher cost of Rs141 crore in a pre-meditated manner. Kalmadi was the chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
The sports ministry on Monday had asked IOA to appoint a new president since a person who has been chargesheeted or jailed should not head any organisation.
Many of the IOA officials were present at the court on Tuesday where Kalmadi was remanded in CBI custody for eight days. Following the court order and sensing his long absence, the IOA officials immediately convened a meeting to appoint Malhotra.
–Agencies