Hockey Sex Scandal: Teammates to be quizzed
NEW DELHI: The Hockey India committee looking into allegations of sexual harassment against former women’s hockey team coach M K Kaushik will also talk to some of the players who have supported their teammate who levelled the charges.
Kaushik, who resigned as the national women’s hockey coach after charges of sexual harassment were levelled against him by Ranjitha Devi, filed his reply to the committee Thursday.
Ranjitha, who has the support of 30 of her fellow-players, has also made a written submission to the committee.
“They have submitted their reply. The committee will meet tomorrow and go through it,” Rajeev Mehta, chairman of the committee, informed.
The only female member of the committee, Sudarshan Pathak said that it is a “serious” issue and the committee need to take everyone’s viewpoint before finalising their report.
“We are dealing with a serious issue here. We should talk to other players who have supported the girl. We have to carefully examine all the facts before taking any decision in the matter. We cannot rush with things,” Pathak said.
The committee, comprising Mehta, Olympians Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar Iqbal and Pathak, met both Kaushik and Ranjitha Wednesday afternoon to record their versions.
The committee was supposed to send its findings to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Friday, but it can take longer.
Asked whether they will send their report to SAI Friday, Mehta said: “We will try to send it tomorrow. We also need to talk to some of the girls, who have supported the player, and is not touring with the team.”
19 of the 31 players, who supported Ranjitha, are touring Korea for the Asian Champions Trophy July 27-31.