Bail for Kalmadi cheers his supporters in Pune

Pune, Jan 19: Supporters of Pune MP, Suresh Kalmadi, on Thursday welcomed the news of Delhi High Court granting him bail in the Commonwealth Games scams by shouting slogans at the Congress Bhavan here.

"This will give a psychological boost to Congress workers in the coming civic elections," said Pune Congress chief, Abhay Chhajed. Chhajed, a close aide of Kalmadi's, said it was a "good coincidence" that Kalmadi got bail as interviews to finalise candidates for the next month's election started.

However, Maharashtra Congress spokesman Anant Gadgil, a known detractor of Kalmadi's, declined to comment on the development saying "he is not in the party".

Kalmadi is currently suspended from Congress. Pune NCP chief, Vandana Chavan, said Kalmadi had been only granted a bail, which was not an acquittal. "All charges against him in the scam stand," she added.

Kalmadi had dominated Pune city politics for the last fifteen years, at times locking horns with Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Facing graft charges, Kalmadi, who was chairman of organising committee of 2010 games, has spent nearly nine months in jail.

PTI