The news of the FIR filed against a Delhi-based coach for allegedly sexually assaulting and later blackmailing a 27-year-old national level kabaddi player has been making headlines throughout India. The police acted swiftly after the complaint was registered at Baba Haridas Nagar police station, an area that is well known for hosting many sports activities. This case serves as an example of how police will take strict action against any perpetrator attempting to misuse their power to exploit anyone. It sends out a powerful message that such incidents will not be tolerated, and justice will still prevail even if the victim is intimidated or threatened with anything else. We are hopeful that there will be a thorough investigation leading towards swift and appropriate justice.
The news of a kabaddi player claiming unwanted sexual relations from her coach in 2015 is shocking and disheartening. The coach’s intense influence on her sport career can be seen from the fact that she was preparing for a competition under his guidance since 2012. Unsurprisingly, she also accused him of coercing her into giving him part of the earnings from a tournament she won in 2018. This shows how the power imbalance between an athlete and their coach can be disadvantageous to the athlete and the need to bring more transparency in sports administration.
On the surface, 2021 should have been a happy time for her, with her impending marriage. Unfortunately however, the accused coach Joginder had other plans in mind. Reportedly using blackmail as a tool, he threatened to release private photos that he was aware of if not paid Rs 43.5 lakh. His despicable tactics prompted her to transfer the money to his bank account. Thankfully, police took note and registered a case against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Now it is up to them to restore justice for this unfortunate woman and punish the culprit accordingly.
The Delhi police have launched an investigation to determine the authenticity of these allegations, and the kabaddi player in question joined them on Monday to provide her statement to the court. This has been a long-awaited outcome, as things had been unclear for many months. Several sports personalities had earlier come out publicly to voice their grievances with the mistreatment of female athletes, and this is a crucial first step toward gaining closure and justice. The police are sure to take all evidence into account during their investigation in order to ensure that whoever is responsible will be held accountable. With the player’s testimony on record, it is only a matter of time until similar incidents become a thing of the past.
The withdrawal of the protest by wrestlers and other athletes concerned about the shocking case of alleged rape is a welcome development, coming on the heels of ongoing talks between the complainants and Indian government. It emerged that efforts to address their grievances have borne fruit with the formation of an oversight committee to investigate these claims as well as establish justice for those affected. Law enforcement personnel are also on top of this situation–a FIR has been registered under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, with teams assembled to capture suspects implicated in this sad incident. Hopefully through such response and initiatives appropriate punishment will be enforced, thus reinforcing that any violation or abuse against members of sporting community will not go unpunished.
