Media365
KOLKATA: Hockey India’s Ethics Committee has initiated a fact-finding inquiry into complaints filed against former India women’s hockey captain and Executive Board member Asunta Lakra.The development comes a day after it emerged that the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports had asked Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute a neutral, fair and transparent committee to probe the allegations made by Lakra against Hockey India secretary general and Hockey Jharkhand president Bhola Nath Singh and former coach Sudhir Golla. The ministry has also sought a clarification from Hockey India.In a communication issued by Justice (Retd.) Raghvendra Kumar, chairman of Hockey India’s Ethics Committee, Lakra was informed that Jharkhand player Albela Rani Toppo had filed two complaints against her, addressed to the Hockey India secretary general on Apr 5 and Jul 9.“Vide Hockey India letter dated 10.07.2026, I have been requested to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the allegations levelled against you. The copy of both the complaints are hereby transmitted to you with the direction to file the reply/response thereof within 30th July, 2026,” states the letter, a copy of which is in possession of TOI.It further states that if no reply is received within the stipulated period, “it shall be deemed that you have to say nothing in your defence and the fact-finding inquiry shall accordingly proceed as per established procedure and law.”Reacting to the development, Lakra said, “I will abide by the Sports Ministry’s directions and place my version before the committee constituted to look into the matter. But sending this notice at this stage is nothing but an attempt to intimidate me.”Earlier, the ministry had written to Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey directing the federation to place Lakra’s complaint before its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and sought a report on the outcome.Following the communication, Tirkey wrote to the ministry requesting an independent inquiry into Lakra’s allegations and informed members of Hockey India’s Executive Board of the same.Hockey India vice-president Asima Ali extended her support to Lakra, saying she would closely monitor the federation’s handling of the matter.“Proper and fair implementation of the Sports Code of India in Hockey will be watched over by me… and in case of any unfair or unjust practice, I will include it in my ongoing petition before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court without any delay. I also provide my full support to Ms. Asunta Lakra,” Ali wrote in a social media post.Lakra has alleged that Singh threatened her after she raised concerns over the alleged protection being extended to Golla by Hockey Jharkhand. She has also accused Golla of intimidating women players after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against him. Both Singh and Golla have denied the allegations.
