NEW DELHI – Indian police on Wednesday questioned the top organiser of the Delhi Commonwealth Games as part of a widening corruption probe into the tainted October event. Suresh Kalmadi arrived mid-morning at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi, where detectives quizzed him over suspect contracts for most of the day.
The Games, which were marred by venue delays and poor organisation, were also hit by claims of massive financial irregularities as the budget ballooned to an estimated six billion dollars. In late December police raided several residences used by Kalmadi, leading to criticism that the CBI had waited too long to gather evidence. The CBI has also complained to the government that Kalmadi and his closest aide, Lalit Bhanot, were obstructing their investigation.
Kalmadi, a 66-year-old former air force pilot with powerful political connections, has consistently protested his innocence in the face of fierce attacks from the media and political critics.
