CWG scam: Congress suspends Kalmadi

New Delhi, Apr 25 (ANI): Congress on Monday suspended Suresh Kalmadi after the party MP from Pune was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged role in connection with the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) projects.

"The DAC of the party has suspended Suresh Kalmadi," said Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

The CBI on Monday afternoon formally announced the arrest of sacked Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organizing Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi for his alleged role in the AM Films and Swiss Time scams.

Kalmadi, who has been charged with conspiracy and cheating, will be produced in court tomorrow. He also faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CBI officials questioned Kalmadi this morning for the fourth time about several contracts that saw the most expensive firms being hired for equipment and services.

Kalmadi's lawyer Hitesh Jain had earlier today denied reports of his arrest in connection with his role in the AM Films and TSR scams.

"Suresh Kalmadi has not been arrested. I've spoken to him and he has not been arrested," he had said then.

The arrest order was carried out after the CBI had questioned Kalmadi extensively on the two incidents, particularly on the documents relating to the two deals.

The CBI had earlier asked Kalmadi to appear before it on Monday to clarify some new issues, which surfaced during the visit of the agency's officials to London in connection with Queen's Baton Relay scam.

Kalmadi had earlier expressed his inability to appear before the CBI citing his foreign visit, saying he would return home only after April 19. But even after returning from his visit abroad, he did not turn up before the sleuths saying he was still not in Delhi, sources said.

Kalmadi has been accused of sanctioning payments to AM Films and AM Car at rates that were hugely inflated.

The AM Car and Van Hire Company in London was engaged during Queen's Baton Relay in 2009 to provide services like taxis for the guests and OC members. The AM films was hired to provide display monitors during the event.

Kalmadi's aides had earlier justified hiring AM Films and AM Car by saying other bids were not competitive, but now the CBI has found that the names of other bidders given by Kalmadi, were all forged and fake. (ANI)