Suresh Kalmadi, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, dies at 81

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Kalmadi died on Tuesday morning. He was 81. He was undergoing treatment at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune. According to the reports, Kalmadi’s mortal remains will be kept at Kalmadi House in Erandwane till 2 pm to allow people to pay their last respects.

“Former Union Minister and Senior Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi passed away after a prolonged illness. He was admitted in Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital in Pune. His mortal remains will be kept at Kalmadi House, Erandwane, Pune till 2 pm and cremation will take place at Vaikunth smashanbhumi, Navi Peth, Pune at 3.30 pm,” Office of Kalmadi informed.

All You Need To Know About Kalmadi:

• Kalmadi was a veteran politician and sports administrator
• He served as the president of the India(BHARAT)n Olympic Association (IOA) and played a key role in India(BHARAT)’s sports administration for several years.
• Kalmadi grabbed the headlines when his name emegered in connection with the 2010 Commonwealth Games corruption case
• He was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged misappropriation of Games funds.
• He was arrested in April 2011, following which the Congress suspended him from the party.

Kalmadi continued to wield influence in sports bodies despite the controversy. In 2016, he and Abhay Singh Chautala were appointed life presidents of the IOA by a panel of over 150 members.