Pune: Suresh Kalmadi, a former Union minister and prominent Congress party figure, passed away Tuesday at age 81 following an extended illness, according to reports. He had been receiving medical care at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, Maharashtra.
His body will remain at Kalmadi House in Pune’s Erandwane neighborhood until 2 pm, with the final rites scheduled for 3:30 pm at Vaikunth crematorium, an official statement from his office confirmed.
Kalmadi leaves behind his wife, a son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters, a son-in-law, and several grandchildren.
Who was Suresh Kalmadi?
The veteran politician previously held the position of Union minister of state for railways and served as president of the Indian Olympic Association. A well-known political figure in Pune, Kalmadi secured multiple electoral victories to the Lok Sabha representing the city.
Throughout his career, he occupied numerous positions in public service and maintained strong connections with national-level sports administration for an extended period.
His leadership of the IOA, however, became embroiled in controversy surrounding the 2010 Commonwealth Games corruption scandal. He faced charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly misappropriating funds and was taken into custody in April 2011. Following his arrest, the Congress party suspended his membership.
Despite the scandal, Kalmadi retained considerable influence in sporting bodies. In 2016, over 150 members elected him alongside Abhay Singh Chautala as lifetime presidents of the Indian Olympic Association. The appointment sparked backlash when the Union sports minister called for an investigation into the selection process.
Subsequently, Kalmadi declined the appointment, informing then-Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran in writing that the timing was inappropriate for accepting such a role.
Cleared in CWG Case
Earlier in 2026, a Delhi court approved the closure report filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the matter, stating insufficient evidence existed to prove money laundering charges against Suresh Kalmadi. The ruling essentially exonerated him in the case that had persisted for 15 years.
Read More: AAP Leader Gunned Down at Wedding Celebration in Amritsar Resort
Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal at Rouse Avenue Court determined that prosecutors failed to establish an offense under Section 3 (money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
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