Kalmadi to stay away from IOA, tells Malhotra to continue

Former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi has decided to step aside as Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president though he has not officially resigned from the post.

Kalmadi sent a letter to senior vice-president V K Malhotra asking him to continue discharging his duty as acting president and said he would not represent the IOA for some time.

Kalmadi, who was granted bail by the Delhi high court on Thursday, told Malhotra in the letter that he would not be able to represent IOA and will "not be taking part in IOA activities for a long time".

Meanwhile, Malhotra informed the International Olympic Committee that Kalmadi will not be involved in IOA activities for the moment.

Malhotra has also reiterated that he is authorised to run the IOA in Kalmadi's absence.

A top IOA official said Kalmadi is not in a position to be involved in day-to-day organisational matters because of the court case.

"He is not in a position to devote time for IOA at the moment. He also has to attend to his electorate in Pune since he has been away for close to nine months now. He realizes that it will be a prolonged absence and has therefore asked Malhotra to continue as the ccting president", the official said.

Kalmadi had nominated senior IOA vice-president Malhotra as acting president before being arrested for alleged corruption in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The anti-Kalmadi group in the IOA has raised questions on why he is not stepping down from the post if he is not in a position to take charge again.

"He should resign officially and pave way for someone else to become the President. He should take into account public furore and sentiments," a member of the rival faction said.

Kalmadi's presence will also add a new dimension to the IOA elections, scheduled later this year.

The IOA president was arrested by the CBI on April 25, 2011 in the Timing, Scoring and Result system scam.

Kalmadi had moved the high court in January, seeking bail, citing the Supreme Court's judgment in the 2G spectrum case, and said it has been held that "bail is rule and jail is exception".