National shooting coach booked under POCSO for ‘sexually assaulting’ minor training under him

Bhardwaj (33), a former pistol shooter who runs a shooting academy in Mohali, did not respond to requests for comment from The Indian Express.

The minor’s parents said in a joint statement that they were “deeply traumatised” and “focused on taking care of (their daughter’s) health at this time”. They also said that “as parents, we do not want anyone else to suffer the same fate”.

NRAI Secretary Rajiv Bhatia told The Indian Express that Bhardwaj was suspended as soon as the association came to know about the FIR. “The FIR is of January 6, and NRAI Secretary General Pawan Singh suspended the coach immediately. We have issued a show-cause notice to the coach, and the rest of the matter will be taken forward as per law. We are not engaging the coach for any coaching activity at present, and he is out of the NRAI coaching set-up with immediate effect,” Bhatia said.

Police sources said the FIR recorded the complainant as stating that the alleged incident occurred on December 16, after she participated in a national competition. They said that the minor had been training under the accused, who was part of the national coaching set-up, since August last year.

According to the complaint, the minor alleged that after her event ended, Bhardwaj asked her to wait to discuss her performance.

Later, via WhatsApp call, the coach allegedly directed her to the lobby of a hotel where he was staying, the complaint stated. The complainant alleged that she initially sat in the lobby analysing her match but was then called to his third-floor room, purportedly for a detailed discussion.

According to the complaint, Bhardwaj allegedly forcibly touched her inappropriately in the room 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.

The coach then allegedly dropped her near her vehicle, in which she drove to the hotel, around 4 pm and instructed her to behave normally, the complaint stated. Traumatised and fearful, the girl did not immediately report the incident, according to the complaint.

Bhardwaj allegedly continued communicating with her and her parents about training, even complaining to them that she was not listening to him, the complaint said.

Noticing changes in her behaviour, including loss of sleep and stress, her mother repeatedly asked what the matter was, the complaint stated. On the morning of January 6, the girl confided in her mother, who then accompanied her to file the complaint after meeting senior police officers, following which a case was registered.

“We will not tolerate such things, and we have an internal committee on such cases. The incident happened at a private hotel, and it was not during the national championship or at the range. In this case, it is very clear that the coach or shooter was not present at the range at the time of the incident. The shooter told her parents 10-15 days post that (the incident). The incident happened on December 16, and the FIR was filed on January 6,” NRAI secretary Bhatia said.

The association has not yet received an official complaint on the matter, according to its Secretary General Pawan Singh. “We got the FIR copy through the media, and on that basis, we have suspended the coach and have issued a show cause notice to the coach for his explanation. Our Internal Complaints Committee has been apprised of the issue, and we have told them to take due action,” Singh told The Indian Express.

“The NRAI is very strict on such kinds of incidents… We educate shooters regarding athletes’ and coaches’ rights under the POCSO Act. Last year, NRAI conducted classes with the shooters and coaches, and it is also part of the terms and conditions of shooters and coaches that come under NRAI. The coach has not replied yet… We are waiting for all the legalities to be done by the concerned authorities,” he said.

In their joint statement, the complainant’s parents also said that their daughter “has been advised counselling”. “Ankush has been in a position to possibly commit such acts with others. We hope that also comes out in the investigation. For now, we are trusting the Haryana police to carry out their duties with utmost sincerity, as they have registered the FIR. We also hope the authorities in Punjab, where he lives and works, cooperate in the matter,” they said while requesting “privacy hereafter”.

The Inspector in charge of the police station where the FIR was lodged, said, “We have filed the FIR and will be taking the required action. We will be collecting evidence and doing the proceedings as per the law.”