Delhi Assembly Dy Speaker demands Del govt money back from IOA

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal has demanded that Indian Olympic Association return Rs 20 crore given to it by the Delhi government, charging IOA of spending the money 'unjudiciously'.

The truth was all celebrities who performed at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne had charged whopping fees (crores each), Mr Iqbal, who was also part of Delhi government's official delegation at the ceremony, said last night.

Truth was also that all celebrities who did not perform and went there just to indulge in partying were also paid a fat sum just for their presence, he alleged.

''Truth is besides celebrities some socialites too are paid invitees.'' Not to mention the lodging, boarding and travelling all premium class over and above the fees for sheer presence. The horrifying was that the IOA had spent Rs 40 crore--Rs 29 crore of which was to come from Delhi government and Rs 11 crore from the central government--for the above, he claimed.

Saying IOA officials would have to answer these questions, he added ''I believe Ashwarya Rai, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee and others owe an explaination to the country, how much money they received and from whom?'' Delhi government had decided not to release the balance Rs nine crore to IOA.

''Rather, we demand back the Rs 20 crore that we have already paid to IOA,'' he added.

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