By Nick Butler at the Main Press Centre in Glasgow

Indian Olympic Association secretary general Rajeev Mehta has been released after no evidence was found ©IOACharges against Rajeev Mehta, the secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) who was arrested here for driving without a licence and under the influence of alcohol on Saturday (August 2), have been dropped due to a lack of evidence.


It is claimed that Mehta, who was elected to his post in February, was driving a friend's car before being involved in a "minor accident" while coming out of a car park.

Following two hours of negotiations, the Indian High Commission explained that charges against the official had been dropped and that the matter did not come up for hearing at the Sheriff's Court.

Virender Malik, a senior international wrestling referee who was arrested on the same evening in an unrelated incident involving sexual assault, has also had his charges revoked.

He allegedly tried to molest a hotel receptionist, with the receptionist complaining that the official had assaulted her on the pretext of putting India's pin on her blazer.

"Charges against both of them have been dropped due to lack of evidence," a High Commission spokesman said.

"They have been released without any charges being framed." 

The scandal had threatened to overshadow Indian sporting success during the Games ©IOAThe scandal had threatened to overshadow Indian sporting success during the Games ©IOA



This comes as some relief for the IOA, which was having to face a lot of embarrassment here only months after it was reinstated into the Olympic Games following a 14-month suspension.

This suspension, relating to the election of officials linked to corruption, was only lifted when Mehta, a close ally of former IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, was elected secretary general at the same time as Narayana Ramachandran, also head of the World Squash Federation, was elected President in February.

Following Mehta's arrest, Indian Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal warned action would be taken if he was found guilty, but there is no longer an indication this will occur and Ramachandran refused to comment until more details had emerged.

Mehta has, however, already received huge criticism in India, and the incident will remain a blot on his reputation, irrespective of whether further action is taken or not.

The official is also no stranger to controversy, and in May the IOA was 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.

Earlier this year, he also 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.

This plan was eventually dropped after the notion failed to secure Government support.