Indian Sports Minister Ajay Maken, during an interview with NDTV, announced his plans to seek legal counsel from both the Attorney General and the Law Ministry if his ministry has the power to fire Suresh Kalmadi from his position as the Indian Olympic Association’s president.

Just a few hours after Kalmadi, chief of the Commonwealth Games, was apprehended, Maken sent the IOA a letter recommending for his suspension. Maken, however, admits that he is doubtful if the association will consider his ministry’s recommendation. The IOA enjoys full autonomy in appointing its officials.

Maken explains that “after all a person who is tainted, who has been arrested by the CBI on charges of conspiracy, cheating and corruption, he shouldn’t be allowed to represent India in international forum. And a person behind bars, I don’t think should be the president of IOA. So, soon after we came to know officially that CBI has arrested him, we shot off a letter to IOA asking them to remove Mr. Kalmadi from the IOA.”