SPORT-KALMADI 2LST

"The Ministry gave me a different e-mail. I said I am not
a technological expert. They didn't mention doctored or
forged. They just said one line is different. Whether they
were forged, we would know only after the inquiry," Kalmadi
said.
Kalmadi, nonetheless, defended Darbari insisting that the
tainted official had worked well while in office.
"Darbari has a lot of business to take care of but he has
done his job. He is an efficient officer. He has been very
helpful," he said.
"I trust all my officials. I have got 2,000 people
working for me and I trust all of them. It was a tough
decision to suspend," he said.
On why Darbari was kept on board in OC despite a tainted
past, including a customs case, Kalmadi said he was sent on
leave when the case initially came out but was taken back
after he gave in writing that he was merely a witness in the
matter.
"He was not suspended, he went on leave. He went for the
inquiry and came back with a letter saying that he was called
as a witness and nothing more than that. So he was taken
back," he reasoned.
But Kalmadi said he would not protect Darbari him if he
is found guilty in the QBR financial irregularities case.
"If I see some financial irregularieties, I am not going
to protect one person. There is no letter which states that
Darbari is a culprit in that (customs case). There is an
inquiry going on and the moment the inquiry is over, I will
tell you," he said.
Asked persistently why he was not taking the moral
responsibility for the corruption charges, inclduing the ones
levelled in a Central Vigilance Commission report, Kalmadi
reckoned he could not be expected to own up for mistakes
committed by others.
"I have 2000 people working under me, I don't see all the
papers. Matters go to the Executive Board, where four officers
from the government sit. Every single paisa has been passed by
such committees," he explained.
"If I am involved then I would see. Once the Games are
over CWGOC would be disbanded anyway so no question of me
stepping aside," he said.
All India tennis Association chief Anil Khanna stepped
down from the post of OC treasurer after his name cropped up
in a controversy over the contracts awarded to a company in
which his son is an employee.
Asked if he was willing to take such moral responsibility
and step aside, Kalmadi said, "Anil Khanna can afford to
resign but I as chairman of CWGOC cannot. These Games are my
baby, I have made promises to the Commonwealth Games
Federation. I would have a tough time explaining to them that
the Games are in trouble when I step down."
"I have got 34 functional areas to look after which is a
mammoth task," he added. PTI