Faridabad court rejects bail plea of shooting coach accused in POCSO case
Additional District and Sessions Judge Abhishek Phutela of the special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court dismissed the bail plea filed earlier this week.
Fast-track court in Faridabad rejects anticipatory bail plea of shooting coach Ankush Bhardwaj in minor sexual assault case. (Photo for representation) A fast-track court in Faridabad on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of shooting coach Ankush Bhardwaj in connection with the sexual assault of a minor at a city hotel.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Abhishek Phutela of the special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court dismissed the bail plea filed earlier this week. Bhardwaj, who is now absconding, stands accused of aggravated penetrative sexual assault of the girl he was training.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) suspended the accused coach earlier in January after the Faridabad police lodged an FIR against him, its Secretary Rajiv Bhatia had said.
According to the police, the FIR was registered on January 6 under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which pertains to aggravated penetrative sexual assault, and Section 351(2) of the BNS for criminal intimidation.
Bhardwaj (33), a former shooter, runs a shooting academy in Mohali. The police have raided the academy and his residences at Ambala and Chandigarh.
The minor’s parents, in a joint statement earlier, had said that they were “deeply traumatised” and “focused on taking care of (their daughter’s) health”. They also said, “As parents, we do not want anyone else to suffer the same fate.”
Police sources had said the FIR recorded the complainant as stating that the alleged incident occurred on December 16, after she participated in a national competition. They added that according to the complaint, Bhardwaj allegedly forcibly touched her inappropriately and committed sexual assault despite her resistance. He allegedly threatened to ruin her shooting career if she disclosed the matter to anyone, the complaint stated, said sources.
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