CBI to grill Kalmadi again on Jan 3

The Central Bureau of Investigation has sent summons to Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, asking him to appear before the investigative agency on January 3. The CBI is expected to ask Kalmadi some tough questions about the alleged multi-crore scams and irregularities in organising the Commonwealth Games.

While conducting raids at Kalmadi's residence, the agency reportedly found some incriminating documents and a CD which has been sent for further examinations.

The CBI has already questioned Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot for alleged financial irregularities in the Games. The agency has also grilled several close aides of the CWG Organising Committee president and staffers working for him.

The CBI has registered a case against Bhanot and CWG OC Director General V K Verma. The agency is probing a Rs 107 crore deal struck with a firm for the results update system of the Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi has already been questioned for eight hours at the CBI headquarters in Lodhi Estate in New Delhi after the agency conducted raids on his residences in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai. During the interrogation, he was asked about the statements of CWG OC officials Sanjay Mahendaru, T S Darbari and M Jayachandran, who are all lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail.

Kalmadi's assistant Manoj Bhore, whose house was raided by CBI on December 24, has been cooperating with the agency and has reportedly shared crucial evidence with it.

But the CBI is yet to lodge a case against the Congress leader.

Kalmadi has claimed that he is innocent, as the decisions about the final payments were taken by the entire OC executive board.