Hockey India handled sexual harassment case in childish manner: Pargat

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Pargat Singh has criticised Hockey India (HI) for its handling of the accusations of sexual harassment against coach M.K. Kaushik.

“The way they handled the matter was childish. It is basically because of an inefficient administration. They did not handle it in a professional manner,” said Pargat, an Olympian, who is a candidate for the president’s post in HI elections slated for Wednesday.

Pargat said the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) should have taken up the matter.

“They should have formed a redressal cell having an independent person with a legal mind. For matters like these, there should be a grievances cell. It should be independent and not involved in politics. Any player can register their complaint without fear,” he said.

Indian hockey was rocked by yet another controversy last week after a player Ranjitha Devi levelled charges of sexual harassment against Kaushik. HI also sacked the videographer M. Basavaraja after photographs of him with a prostitute, during an overseas tour, surfaced in the media.

Kaushik, also an Olympian, quit and maintained that the accusations were baseless and a conspiracy to tarnish his image.

HI has formed a four-member committee comprising Rajiv Mehta (chairman), former players Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal Singh and Sudarshan Pathak.

HI also told the government that it will not need the services of Kaushik in future. HI secretary general Narinder Batra submitted the report of the internal probe committee, which looked into the allegations of sexual harassment against Kaushik, to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the sports ministry and also marked a copy to the Delhi police commissioner.