By Nick Butler at the Main Press Centre in Glasgow
"Stern action" is being threatened by the Indian Government against Indian Olympic Association (IOA) general secretary Rajeev Mehta after he was arrested here last night for allegedly driving without a licence and above the legal alcohol limit.
"Stern action" is being threatened by the Indian Government against Indian Olympic Association (IOA) general secretary Rajeev Mehta after he was arrested here last night for allegedly driving without a licence and above the legal alcohol limit.
In a major embarrassment for the IOA just months after it was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following a 14-month suspension, the incident involving Mehta occurred on the same night that Virender Malik, an Indian wrestling official, was arrested in an unrelated incident involving an alleged sexual assault.
The Indian High Commission in London admitted they had "learnt about the detention of two members of the Commonwealth contingent by the local [Glasgow] police", and that they had already "deputed an official to Glasgow to keep in close touch with the police to ascertain full facts of the case".
Both men are expected to remain in custody until tomorrow when they will appear in court.
Mehta, a close ally of former IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, was elected IOA secretary general in February along with Narayana Ramachandran, also head of the World Squash Federation, as President.
India were allowed to participate in the Closing Ceremony of Sochi 2014 in what was heralded as a turning point for the IOA ©Getty ImagesTheir election persuaded the IOC to lift suspension of the IOA.
As well as being the President of the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), Mehta is also associate vice-president of Hockey India, a role that gives him significant influence due to the sport's popularity in the country.
Earlier this year when Mehta, also a businessman from Haldwani, pushed for India to step in and bid to host the 2019 Asian Games after original host city Hanoi withdrew in April despite the fact that Ramachandran was against the plan.
The attempt to bid for a Delhi 2019 Asian Games was dropped after a failure to gain Government support ©Getty ImagesIn May, the IOA was also forced to apologise to the International Boxing Association on Mehta's behalf after he mistakenly claimed they had not been consulted regarding the formation of a new governing body in India.
Following the latest incident, Indian Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has warned action will be taken if Mehta is found guilty.
"If whatever the media have reported so far is right, definitely our Ministry will take appropriate action in this regard," he said.
"The detailed information of the incident is not available with us right now.
"Our officials have been instructed to communicate with the [Indian] High Commission [in London] and also the local police of Scotland.
"Whatever information is available with us, they will be provided in the court of law tomorrow and in the court if they are proved wrong, law will take its own course.
"If these are proved to be right, then definitely we will condemn it, our athletes are putting in their hard work and dedication for the cause of the country.
"But this kind of incidents definitely hurt every Indian and stern action will be taken if the allegations are true."
Ramachandran, meanwhile, claimed he was waiting for a detailed report before commenting on the issue.
Raj Singh, India''s Chef de Mission at Glasgow 2014, claimed he was not in a position to take action because Mehta was not staying in the Athletes' Village.
"If anything like this happens, it is shameful," he said.
"But I am not in a position to do anything.
"I can only work for the athletes and officials, who are staying in the Village."
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]
Related stories
July 2014: India withdraw bid for 2019 Asian Games due to lack of Government support
"If whatever the media have reported so far is right, definitely our Ministry will take appropriate action in this regard," he said.
"The detailed information of the incident is not available with us right now.
"Our officials have been instructed to communicate with the [Indian] High Commission [in London] and also the local police of Scotland.
"Whatever information is available with us, they will be provided in the court of law tomorrow and in the court if they are proved wrong, law will take its own course.
"If these are proved to be right, then definitely we will condemn it, our athletes are putting in their hard work and dedication for the cause of the country.
"But this kind of incidents definitely hurt every Indian and stern action will be taken if the allegations are true."
Ramachandran, meanwhile, claimed he was waiting for a detailed report before commenting on the issue.
Raj Singh, India''s Chef de Mission at Glasgow 2014, claimed he was not in a position to take action because Mehta was not staying in the Athletes' Village.
"If anything like this happens, it is shameful," he said.
"But I am not in a position to do anything.
"I can only work for the athletes and officials, who are staying in the Village."
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]
Related stories
July 2014: India withdraw bid for 2019 Asian Games due to lack of Government support
