Kalmadi foreign trips cost close to 18 lakh

New Delhi: Nearly Rs 18 lakh were spent on six foreign trips, lasting 28 days, that Commonwealth Games Organising Committee`s under-fire chairman Suresh Kalmadi went on in the build-up to the event even though the amount is not part of his travel allowances.

Kalmadi`s travel expenses for these trips stood at Rs 17.72 lakh, CWG OC`s RTI official Y D Mehta revealed but he could not provide details of Kalmadi`s travel allowance saying, "The information is not available with the accounts department." During his trip to London for the Queen`s Baton Relay, Kalmadi`s travel expenses were borne by Air India. Asked how much was spent on salary and other perks for Kalmadi, the response was that the Member of Parliament was not paid for his role in the OC. The OC also did not have any information about the number of staff hired during the build-up to the Games and whether any advertisements were given in newspapers for the purpose. Giving specifics of Kalmadi`s trips abroad, RTI applicant Ramesh Verma was told that the OC chairman had travelled to Sri Lanka, Canada, Greece, Zambia and the West Indies at various times. The OC is facing charges of corruption in the preparations of the Games and two of its former officials T S Darbari and Sajay Mohendroo have been arrested by the CBI. PTI