Senior Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi passes away at 81

PUNE: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi passed away at the age of 81 in the early hours of Tuesday, an official release from the office of Kalmadi said.

The former chairman of the Indian Olympic Association was undergoing treatment at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune. He breathed his last around 3.30 am following a prolonged illness.

Kalmadi, a former Member of Parliament from Pune and former Minister of State for Railways, is survived by his wife, a married son, daughter-in-law, two married daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren.

#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra | Former Union Minister and Senior Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi passed away after a prolonged illness.

(Visuals from outside his residence) pic.twitter.com/HWKh3MhKgh

— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2026

His mortal remains will be kept at his residence, Kalmadi House in Erandwane, Pune, until 2 pm. The last rites will be performed at Vaikunth smashanbhumi in Navi Peth, Pune, at 3.30 pm.

“Former Member of Parliament from Pune, former Union Minister of State for railways, and former President of the Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi (aged 81), passed away in Pune today on Tuesday, January 6 at 3.30 am after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife, a married son, daughter-in-law, two married daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren. His mortal remains will be kept at Kalmadi House, Erandwane, Pune till 2 pm and cremation will take place at Vaikunth smashanbhumi, Navi Peth, Pune at 3.30 pm”, an official press release said. (ANI)