Suresh Kalmadi, ex-IOA chief and veteran Congress leader from Pune, dies at 81 after prolonged illness
Former Pune MP and Union minister of state for Railways Suresh Kalmadi died Tuesday at a private hospital in the city. He was 81.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) January 6: On Tuesday in Pune, Suresh Kalmadi, the senior leader of the Congress and a former minister of India's Union, passed away after a long illness.
Suresh Kalmadi, intelligent and a figurehead who has been thrust into the vanguard of Indian sports administration for the past two decades, died at the age of 81.
Cremation at Vaikunth crematorium at 3.30 pm
Mr. Kalmadi is survived by his wife, son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters and a son-in-law, as well as grandchildren. His body will stay at Kalmadi House in the region of Erandwane in Pune until 2 p.m., the sources said. Cremation, which is expected to take place at Vaikunth crematorium in Navi Peth at 3.30 pm, is expected to occur.
Long innings in Parliament with stints in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
A well-known political figure from Pune, Mr. Kalmadi served in the Lok Sabha several times to represent the city. He served three terms in Rajya Sabha 1982-1996 and then again in 1998; in 1998 besides stints as Lok Sabha from 1996 to 2004. He also served as Union Minister of State for Railways.
Helmed Indian Olympic Association and Asian Athletics Association
In 1996, Kalmadi became president of the Indian Olympic Association (Indian Olympiad Association from 1996-2012). He also served as president of the Asian Athletics Association between 2000 and 2013 and became the Life President in 2015.
Kalmadi signed a contract in 2007 to open the Formula One Grand Prix in India. The Indian Express would later find the agreement, however, signed with a subsidiary company with India’s JPSK Sports Private Limited, holding 13% of those shares, and Pune-headquartered Sulba Realty Private, where Kalmadi’s son was a director.
Faced 2010 CWG corruption storm, CBI arrest and suspension from Congress
Kalmadi made headlines in 2010 following scrutiny of the conduct of the Commonwealth Games in India, particularly the way the games were organised. CBI arrested former CWG Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi against him for Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code in April 2011 on Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) case.
As this, he served 10 months in Tihar jail. After the scandal of corruption, Kalmadi was suspended from the Indian National Congress and also dismissed from the presidency of the IOA.
Served as an Indian Air Force pilot and instructor
Kalmadi spent 10 years, before his entry into the political arena, in the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla. First as a commissioned pilot, then as an instructor and retired as a Squadron Leader, he served in the Indian Air Force between 1964 and 1974.
He served as an Indian Air Force Pilot and was involved in a 1966 air raid on Aizawl during an uprising known as the Mizo National Front, the 1965 and 1971 India–Pakistan wars. He wore numerous war-related medals and retired early to participate in politics.
