Women’s hockey sex scandal: Evidence builds against coach

NDTV

New Delhi, 23 July 2010:  It seems likely that the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team will be indicted for sexually harassing players. A committee set up by Hockey India to investigate the allegations against MK Kaushik will share its report today. NDTV has access to a letter written by 31 players to the investigating committee.  The players write, "Mr. Kaushik asks for sexual favors from the junior girls and passes lewd comments by calling them to his room on the pretext of ’game meeting’. The girls, all coming from poor and humble backgrounds are too scared to speak against the coach."

 

Kaushik resigned on Thursday and said that he will not return to work even if he is exonerated. That seems unlikely, say sources in Hockey India. Kaushik has told NDTV that while he may have used angry words to reprimand players, he has never made any sexual advances towards them.  He also said that while he is not interested in returning as Coach, he will go to court if Hockey India’s investigation finds him guilty. The ugly scandal broke out in the Indian women’s hockey after a member of the team sent in a written complaint of sexual harassment against national coach MK Kaushik.

 

 

Hockey India president Vidya Stokes on Thursday accepted Kaushik’s resignation, a day after he relinquished the post in the wake of the sex scandal that rocked the national game. Kaushik tenderd his resignation after a fringe player Ranjita Devi leveled allegations of sexual harassment against him. Although Kaushik stepped down from the coach’s post, he pleaded innocence, saying the allegations were baseless and he was a victim of "big-time conspiracy".

 

Hockey India also sacked videographer Basavraj whose photographs with prostitutes in compromising situations during the recent Canada and China tour were sent to the national body through an anonymous e-mail. Former India skipper Zafar Iqbal who is part of the four-member inquiry panel had earlier said that there may not be enough evidence since it is a case of one player’s word against the coach. "I have spoken with the captain and I asked if he (Kaushik) had ever touched her, she replied to me saying no", he said. But it seems now that the tables may have turned.