Sex scandal: Hockey coach quits, probe ordered
Indian women's hockey coach MK Kaushik on Wednesday resigned after sleaze charges were labelled against him.
The resignation came a day after the sex scandal rocked Indian hockey with a support staff member having been accused of sexual misconduct while on a tour. Thirty-one players filed a written complaint against team's coach Kaushik.
"Kaushik has submitted his resignation to Hockey India Interim President Vidya Stokes. The president will take a decision," said Narinder Batra, HI Secretary General.
Understanding the seriousness of the issue, the hockey establishment launched a thorough probe into the allegations and had also formed a four-member panel, comprising Rajiv Mehta, Zafar Iqbal, Ajitpal Singh and Sudarshan Pathak.
Batra said the panel will submit its report to Hockey India on Friday. HI, in turn, will make its recommendations to Sports Authority of India.
"The panel heard all the parties and they have sought time till tomorrow to make their replies. The panel will submit to us their report on Friday and we will proceed from there," he said.
Hockey India also sacked videographer Basavraj whose photographs with prostitutes during the recent Canada and China tour were sent to HI through an anonymous e-mail.
Batra, however, said Hockey India has no power to take action against the videographer or any other coaching staff in connection with the scandal which came out in the open after a written complaint by one of the fringe players Ranjita Devi.
"We will submit our report with recommendations to the SAI which can take action according to the government service rules. The coach or the videographer are not working under us."
Kaushik said the allegations were baseless and the truth will come out after the inquiry.
"The allegations are all baseless. I am innocent. I am confident of coming out clean because I believe in truth and the truth will prevail," said Kaushik, who has been involved with the women team for close to 20 years.
Assistant coaches Vasu Thapliyal and Mohd. Khalid Modi will now be in-charge of the team for the Asian Champions Trophy in South Korea from July 27.
The Sports Ministry has also taken note of the incident and said it will look into the matter.
(With inputs from PTI)
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