Divya Delhi : Faridabad: National-level shooting coach Ankush Bharadwaj has been booked by Haryana Police for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old national-level female shooter at a hotel in Faridabad. The incident reportedly occurred during a national shooting competition, prompting serious legal action and his suspension from all coaching duties. According to police, an FIR was registered at the Women’s Police Station, NIT Faridabad, following a detailed complaint filed by the athlete’s family. The case has been registered under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. As per the FIR, the alleged incident took place during a national-level competition at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. The complaint states that the coach called the minor shooter to a hotel in Faridabad under the pretext of evaluating her performance. Initially asked to meet in the hotel lobby, the athlete was allegedly pressured into going to the coach’s room, where the assault took place. The FIR further alleges that the coach threatened to ruin the athlete’s career and harm her family if she disclosed the incident. The shooter reportedly left the hotel in a distressed state and later informed her family, who subsequently approached the police. Faridabad Police Public Relations Officer Yashpal Yadav said the investigation is being carried out with urgency. “Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the hotel management has been asked to immediately provide CCTV footage of the day of the incident to corroborate the minor’s statement,” he said. Police are also in the process of recording witness statements. Ankush Bharadwaj is among the 13 national pistol coaches appointed by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Following the allegations, the NRAI has suspended him from all responsibilities. NRAI Secretary General Pawan Kumar Singh said, “We came to know about the matter through media reports. Until the inquiry is completed, coach Ankush Bharadwaj has been suspended from all duties and will not be assigned any new responsibilities.” The complaint also mentions that the athlete claimed another female shooter may have faced similar misconduct from the same coach, a claim that police are examining as part of the investigation. Further investigation in the case is underway.
