Suresh Kalmadi grilled by CBI again, to be arrested soon

Congress MP from Pune Suresh Kalmadi, who was interrogated extensively by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over financial irregularities in the hosting of the Commonwealth Games, is likely to be arrested later in the day according to the probe agency.

The CBI has charged Kalmadi, who headed the organising committee for the high-profile games, of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal code.

While some television channels announced the arrest of Suresh Kalmadi, a CBI spokesperson said he was likely to be arrested later in the day.

Kalmadi, accused of financial irregularities, was being interrogated by CBI sleuths in Delhi from early morning on Monday.

Many of Kalmadi's associates in the organising committee, including Lalit Bhanot and V.K. Verma, were arrested in February.

The CBI questioned Kalmadi on the irregularities in the Queen's Baton Relay held in London before the games and also about the Rs.107 crore contract given to a Swiss firm. The organising committee headed by Kalmadi, a Congress member of Parliament from Pune, has been accused of giving contracts at exorbitant rates to favoured companies.

Kalmadi, who had been grilled by the CBI earlier, has been avoiding meeting its officials. However, he was directed to appear before it on Monday in connection with the irregularities committed while appointing London-based AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Ltd during the Queen's Baton Relay. The CBI, which sent a team to London, has got crucial information about the overvalued deal from the owners of the two firms.