Kalmadi, an incumbent lawmaker belonging to the ruling Congress party, was taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday. He is accused of irregularities in awarding contacts to a Swiss firm for the October 2010 games held in New Delhi.
"I am granting him police custody till May 4," Additional District Judge Talwant Singh ruled. The CBI had sought 14-day remand for Kalmadi alleging he was not cooperating in investigations. The judge also said that Kalmadi would be examined by doctors every 48 hours during his custody and relatives and lawyers could meet him for 40 minutes every day.
Drama
Kalmadi's appearance before the Patiala House court witnessed drama both outside and inside the complex. Kapil Thakur, a Gwalior-based ex-lawyer, threw a slipper at Kalmadi while he was being escorted by the policemen inside the court.
Thakur, 43, who had been debarred from practice due to his eccentric behaviour, missed his target and was nabbed by the police. He later told the investigators that he wanted instant punishment for those indulging in corruption.
Inside the court, Kalmadi's lawyers tried to put the blame on the federal minister M.S. Gill, who headed the sports ministry during the Commonwealth Games, saying the contract to the Swiss firm for time keeping equipment was approved by the then sports minister.
Legal issue
Kalmadi's lawyers also pointed out that the CBI had failed to produce him before the court within the stipulated 24 hours, saying he was arrested at 11am on Monday and produced before the court at 2pm yesterday, and hence he was entitled for bail.
The judge, however, rejected these arguments and sent Kalmadi along with his two associates, Surjeet Lal and A.S.V. Prasad, to police custody for eight days.
So far nine persons, including Kalmadi, have been arrested for corruption in organising the Commonwealth Games.
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