CWG scam: HC issues notice to CBI on Kalmadi’s bail plea

The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking its response to the bail plea of Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi, accused of corruption in the organisation of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Kalmadi, who was chairman of the CWG organising committee which was largely responsible for creating the infrastructure for the scam-tainted games, sought bail citing a recent Supreme Court opinion that bail should be the rule and jail an exception.

Senior counsel Sushil Kumar, appearing for Kalmadi, said that his client has been in custody since 26 April and a charge sheet has also been filed. He said the trial would take a long time as a foreign firm, Swiss Timing Omega, is also an accused in the case and it has not yet appeared before the court.

Kumar said Kalmadi's his custody is "no more required in the case as the Central Bureau of Investigation had on 3 November informed the trial court that investigation in the case is complete".

Justice Mukta Gupta issued the notice to the CBI seeking its reply by 6 January.

Kalmadi was arrested on 26 April for his alleged role in awarding the contract for the timing-scoring-result (TSR) system to Swiss Times Omega at an exorbitant cost of Rs141 crore, allegedly causing a loss of over Rs95 crore to the exchequer.