According to the Delhi Associated Press the dire buildup to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi has deteriorated further, with the organizing committee urged to fire two senior officials amid a brewing corruption scandal just two months before the opening ceremonies.
Commonwealth Games organizing committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi had already ordered an emergency executive board meeting for this week when local media reported he'd been asked by India's sports ministry to remove his director general TS Darbari and deputy director general Sanjay Mohindroo.
In a letter to Kalmadi, Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar asked Kalmadi to take action after the names of the two high-ranking organizing committee members figured in the investigations into "alleged irregularities" related to the Queen's Baton Relay in London, the Press Trust of India reported.
"Matters such as the UK payments and alleged customs inquiry against Darbari raise questions of probity and integrity," Khullar reportedly wrote in the letter Sunday. "They tarnish the image of the Games and adversely affect its credibility... I would strongly advise you that the two officers should be immediately relieved of all their duties."
Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell also weighed into the debate, asking local organizers for a full report on the corruption allegations.
"We cannot allow the Games' image to be damaged by these allegations," Fennell told NDTV. "I am monitoring all the aspects very carefully and it does cause quite a lot of concern because we don't want to have corruption whatsoever. It is something which is very disturbing and do feel that the matter needs urgent attention by Indian authorities."
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