SÃO PAULO, Brazil — The federal police searched the home of the president of Brazil’s Olympic committee on Tuesday and called him in for questioning as part of a widening investigation into allegations that bribes were paid to secure the 2016 Games for Rio de Janeiro.

Prosecutors at a news conference accused Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the head of the committee, of orchestrating bribes to members of the International Olympic Committee. “He was the bridge that linked the criminal scheme together,” a federal prosecutor, Fabiana Schneider, said.

Mr. Nuzman spoke with investigators for hours on Tuesday as news footage showed the police at his home in Rio. Outside his residence, Mr. Nuzman’s lawyer, Sergio Mazzillo, told reporters that his client “didn’t participate in any irregularities; there isn’t strong evidence against him.” No charges have been filed against him.

Rio beat out Madrid, Chicago and Tokyo with its 2016 bid, and became the first South American city to host an Olympics. The selection was hailed as recognition of the country’s growing global clout. Rio was behind Madrid in the first round of voting, but went on to clinch the Games by a vote of 66 to 32 in the third round of balloting.