PAC to Sports Min: How was Kalmadi made OC chief?

Top Sports Ministry officials who appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) did not give a satisfactory explanation for the reasons behind the appointment and continuation of Kalmadi as the OC chief despite three consecutive Sports Ministers expressing strong reservations against the decision, sources said.

The PAC is examining the CAG report on the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The government auditor had dragged the PMO in the CWG mess saying Kalmadi was appointed OC chief at its behest in 2004 despite "serious objections".

The Ministry was also grilled on how the Sovereign Guarantee signed by the Centre for the CWG bid was open-ended and had no cap.

They were asked how a non-government agency "with little transparency and accountability" given rights to spend "unlimited" amount of funds without a cap, the sources said.

Ministry officials were also asked how the budget for the Games shot up from Rs 200 crore to 19,000 crore. The officials explained that since there was little time to prepare, budget was hiked as the nation's "pride" was at stake. (MORE)