Former IOA President Pleads Not Guilty To Commonwealth Games Corruption Charges

Former Indian Olympic Association President SURESH KALMADI pleaded not guilty in court on Monday to "an array of corruption charges related to his handling of the chaotic Delhi Commonwealth Games" in '10, according to the AFP. Kalmadi, a lawmaker for the ruling Congress party, "faces charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office and intimidation over a contract awarded to Swiss Timing, which is part of the Swatch luxury goods empire." Swiss Timing won a 1.1B rupee ($21M) contract to serve as the official timekeeper and results provider of the Games. Kalmadi signed a statement to "declare his innocence of all charges and did not address the court." In the police report detailing their evidence against Kalmadi, Swiss Timing is "accused of paying money to companies as kickbacks to Kalmadi" and others via its local partner Gem Int'l (AFP, 2/4).