New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) The committee probing the sexual harrasement charges against former women’s national hockey coach Maharaj Kishan Kaushik Friday submitted its report to Hockey India (HI).
The committee felt it was in no position to recommend any action against Kaushik as it has no power to do so. Moreover, the entire process has been reduced to the players’ word against the coach’s. Under the circumstances, the committee had merely sought the written submissions of Kaushik and complainant Ranjitha Devi, who filed their replies Thursday.
The submissions have been forwarded to HI for further action.
The HI is also in no position to reach a conclusion with most of the 31-signatories to the charges away for the Asian Champions Trophy in Busan. Also, HI could not have proposed any action against Kaushik as he has already resigned. If any action need to be taken it has to be taken by Sports Authority of India (SAI) as he is on its staff.
The chairman of the probe committee, Rajiv Mehta, said they did not feel it necessary to broaden the scope of enquiry as they had enough material by way of testimonies from some of the players and the team management.
Mehta said they will not be talking to the players who are playing in Busan.
‘We have had a lot of testimonies, we have spoken to Kaushik, the girl (Ranjitha), and some of the players and the manager of the team (Madhu Yadav). We do not need to talk to anyone else,’ he said.
HI secretary general Narinder Batra said the federation will send its recommendations to SAI Saturday.
‘The inquiry committee has submitted its report to HI today. We will go through the report and make our recommendations to SAI tomorrow,’ Batra told reporters.
The committee comprises Mehta (chairman), Olympians Ajitpal Singh and Zafar Iqbal, Sudarshan Pathak and convener Anupam Ghulati.
Videographer Basavraj, who has been suspended on much serious allegations, did not appear before the committee.
Kaushik Wednesday had resigned as the national coach, saying his position has become untenable after the charges by Ranjitha.
