New Delhi, Jan 6 (NationPress) Suresh Kalmadi, a prominent Congress leader and former Union Minister, has sadly passed away in Pune on Tuesday at the age of 81, after battling a prolonged illness.

The former president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) leaves behind his wife, a son and datter-in-law, two married daughters along with their husbands, and several grandchildren.

Throughout his career, Kalmadi served as the Union Minister of State for Railways and was a significant figure in Indian sports administration for over a decade. He was a seasoned politician representing Pune multiple times in Parliament, holding various key positions during his extensive political journey.

Born on May 1, 1944, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, Kalmadi's family hailed from Mangalore in Karnataka, reflecting a rich Konkani heritage common among communities from the Konkan coast.

He completed his early education at St. Vincent’s High School in Pune, before pursuing his undergraduate studies at Fergusson College, earning his degree.

This academic foundation set the stage for his military training at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, followed by specialized aviation training at the Air Force Flying College in Jodhpur and Allahabad.

Kalmadi ventured into politics in 1982 when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member from Maharashtra, backed by the Congress (S) faction led by Sharad Pawar.

His initial alignment with Congress(S), a splinter group from the Indian National Congress formed in 1978, paved the way for his presidency of the Indian Youth Congress(Socialist) from 1981 to 1986.

In 1986, following the merger of Congress(S) back into the Indian National Congress, Kalmadi solidified his long-standing connection with the party. He served multiple terms in the Rajya Sabha from 1982 to 1996 and later in the Lok Sabha. His party membership faced suspension in April 2011 due to corruption investigations linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra for four terms, starting in 1982, followed by terms in 1988, 1994, and 1998. His final Rajya Sabha term concluded in May 2004, leading to his election to the Lok Sabha.

He represented the Pune constituency in the Lok Sabha for three terms, first elected in the 1996 general election and re-elected in 2004 and 2009.

Kalmadi was elected as president of the Indian Olympic Association in 1996 and continued to be re-elected, including his fourth consecutive term from 2008 to 2012.

During his presidency, the IOA acted as India's National Olympic Committee, overseeing the nation’s participation in Olympic events and managing national sports federations.

In October 2012, under pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kalmadi announced that he would not seek re-election for a fifth term, marking the end of his leadership. His tenure as IOA president lasted from 1996 to 2011.

On April 25, 2011, Kalmadi was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy related to the Commonwealth Games.

The arrest stemmed from inquiries into alleged financial misconduct, notably regarding a Rs 107 crore contract awarded to a Swiss firm, Omega, for the Timing, Scoring, and Results (TSR) system without competitive bidding. The agency claimed this decision resulted in a wrongful loss to the government. Kalmadi, who was the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, has consistently denied the allegations, labeling them politically charged.

In February 2013, a Delhi court brought charges against Kalmadi and nine others related to cheating, forgery, and conspiracy over the alleged improper award of a Rs 141.21 crore TSR contract to Swiss Timing, ignoring a lower bid from a Spanish firm. Kalmadi maintained his innocence, asserting there was no misconduct in the procurement process.

After being released on bail in January 2012 amidst ongoing legal proceedings, Kalmadi was honored with the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) President’s Award on June 3, 2015, recognizing his contributions to athletics in Asia during his 13-year presidency from 1999 to 2013.