After raids, Cong throws Kalmadi to the wolves

After the Central Bureau of Investigation raided the various premises of Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and questioned him in relation to the plethora of alleged games-related scams, the Congress sought to distance itself from the controversial party MP.

"The party and the government have no connection with it. The law is equal for all. There is no question of backing anybody," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.

He was responding to a question on whether with the DMK backing former telecom minister A Raja in the wake of raids in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, the Congress stands by Kalmadi.

"The CBI is independent. It is taking action ... a legal, judicial criminal process is going on. Let us not interfere. The Congress and the administration do not interfere in the process," he said.

Earlier in the day, the CBI conducted an eight-hour raid on Kalmadi's houses in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, and his office at Phoenix Mills in Mumbai.

Kalmadi said the raids didn't disturb his plans for the day. He had visitors in the morning at his Delhi home, he said, and he served them tea.