National coach Ankush Bharadwaj suspended after minor shooter alleges sexual assault
National shooting coach Ankush Bharadwaj has been suspended from all duties after a minor national-level female shooter accused him of sexual assault. Haryana Police have registered an FIR following a detailed complaint by the athlete’s family, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the FIR, the alleged incident took place during a national-level shooting competition held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. The complainant alleged that Bharadwaj assaulted her in a hotel room in Faridabad under the pretext of evaluating her performance.
Police have registered the case at the Women’s Police Station, NIT Faridabad, under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. An investigation is underway, with authorities seeking to record witness statements and collect CCTV footage from the hotel.
“Considering the seriousness of the allegations, we have asked the hotel administration to immediately provide CCTV footage from the day of the incident to corroborate the minor girl’s statement,” said Yashpal Yadav, Public Relations Officer of Faridabad Police.
Bharadwaj is among the 13 national pistol coaches appointed by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Confirming the suspension, NRAI Secretary General Pawan Kumar Singh said the federation came to know of the matter through media reports and decided to bar the coach from all responsibilities until the inquiry is completed.
The FIR further alleged that the shooter was initially asked to meet the coach in the hotel lobby but was later pressured to go to his room. The complaint claims the coach threatened to damage her career and harm her family if she disclosed the incident.
The athlete reportedly left the hotel in a state of shock and informed her family soon after, following which the police complaint was filed.
The complaint also mentions that another female shooter may have faced similar conduct by the same coach, a claim now being examined as part of the investigation.