Suresh Kalmadi meets SM Krishna over organising committee payment controversy

Beleaguered chairman of the organising committee (OC) for Commonwealth Games Suresh Kalmadi today met external affairs minister SM Krishna in the backdrop of a major controversy over whether the Indian high commission in London had recommended a firm to which a sum of over Rs3 crore was remitted by the committee.

The OC is said to have remitted A M Films for providing services which, according to Kalmadi, was recommended by the high commission. Kalmadi had cited an e-mail by a clerk-level official of the mission in support of his claim.

However, the high commission has denied recommending any company to the OC and has also maintained that the official, Raju Sebastian, was not authorised to do so.

Kalmadi has discussed the matter with Krishna, who is believed to have supported the high commission's stand.

A M Films was reportedly given over £4.50 lakh by the OC without following any proper tendering procedure and paper work. Kalmadi has rubbished allegations of wrongdoings.