National shooting coach Ankush Bharadwaj has been suspended by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) after facing sexual assault allegations from a 17-year-old national-level shooter. The alleged incident took place at a hotel in Surajkund, Faridabad, during a national championship in New Delhi last year.
An FIR has been filed against Bharadwaj by the Haryana Police based on a complaint from the victim’s family. The complaint accuses the coach of sexually assaulting the shooter and threatening her career.
The incident reportedly occurred on December 16 during a national-level shooting competition at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad, South Delhi. Efforts are being made to gather CCTV footage from the hotel and record statements from witnesses connected to the case.
A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) as the athlete is a minor. The FIR details that the coach called the shooter to his hotel room after the match, where the assault allegedly took place.
