Ministry swings into action

The Sports Ministry on Monday asked its permanent committee on sexual harassment to probe the recent allegations against hockey coach MK Kaushik. The all-women committee, comprising five senior officials of the ministry, a representative each of an NGO and the Delhi Women Commission, will follow

The statement did not specify any time frame for submitting the report.

The committee will also take into account report of the four-member “ad hoc” panel set up by Hockey India that investigated the allegations made by former India player Th Ranjitha that Kaushik has sought sexual favours for picking her in the team.

The HI panel comprising Rajiv Mehta, former India captains Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal Singh and Sudarshan Pathak of Hockey Delhi, concluded that the charges and statements made by Ranjitha were of “high credibility” and suggested that the Sports Ministry should conduct further inquiry into the matter.

Kaushik, who resigned after appearing before the HI panel, has denied the allegations.

The Ministry, however, claimed that it has not yet received the report that HI said has been sent to it and the Delhi police.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also issued instructions for withdrawing Ramesh Malhotra from the national weightlifting camp following the allegations by Sydney Olympics bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari.

Malleswari had accused Malhotra of sexually harassing junior weightlifters.

The Ministry has also made secretary, Sports Authority of India (SAI), in-charge for all camps so as to revamp and strengthen coaching administration in SAI.

The Ministry’s move in both the cases is a step towards taking action against two SAI employees facing allegations.

The step is necessary in the case of hockey as the HI panel has not made any recommendation and the Ministry will have to follow its rules before taking action against Kaushik, who is with SAI on deputation from Sports Directorate, Haryana.