Games organisers face trouble as scandal widens

The dire buildup to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India has deteriorated further, with the organising committee urged to fire two senior officials amid a brewing corruption scandal just two months before the opening ceremonies.



Commonwealth Games organising 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 T.S. 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 organising committee members figured in the investigations into "alleged irregularities" related to the Queen's Baton Relay in London.



Khullar wrote in the letter on Sunday that matters such as the UK payments and alleged customs inquiry against Darbari raise questions of probity and integrity.



He further says Darbari and Mohindroo tarnish the image of the Games and adversely affect its credibility.



The organisers have been under pressure for more than a year since it became apparent that delays in construction meant none of the games venues would be finished before deadline. With infrastructure projects around the city also well behind schedule, the Indian capital is involved in a race against time to be ready to host the October 3 to 14 Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting event here since the 1982 Asian Games.