IOA forms committee to probe Asunta Lakra’s harassment charge

Kolkata: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha’s decision to constitute an independent inquiry committee to examine former India women’s hockey captain Asunta Lakra’s complaint has been welcomed by Hockey India (HI) executive board member and vice-president Asima Ali, who called for “strict and immediate action” against those found responsible.Lakra had alleged in her email to Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and TOPS officials in July that, after informing the Jharkhand govt about allegations of sexual harassment against former Eklavya Hockey Centre coach Sudhir Golla, she was threatened by HI secretary general and Hockey Jharkhand president Bhola Nath Singh for speaking up.“It’s a great step. I’m very happy with what Ma’am PT Usha has done. It should have been done earlier, but at least they have done it now. Strict and immediate action should be taken against the culprits,” Ali said.In a letter dated Sept 7, IOA informed HI that it had constituted the committee following the federation’s request to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports on July 15 and the ministry’s subsequent request to IOA on July 16.The committee will be chaired by retired Justice Deepa Sharma, with Vandana Rao, Mamta Kharb and Sitwat Nabi as members. IOA said the committee would function independently and impartially. HI has been asked to bear the committee’s honorarium and expenses, including travel, accommodation and incidental expenses.IOA president Usha’s letter to HI also stated, “Hockey India is also requested to extend its full cooperation to the Committee and to ensure that all relevant records, documents, information and such other assistance as may be required are made available to the Committee in a timely manner, so as to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively and expeditiously.”Ali said she would extend her full support to the committee and cooperate with its proceedings. “The committee has my complete support. Asunta is also there. I don’t know about the rest,” she said.The HI vice-president also criticised attempts to silence people within the sport before adding, “Bhola Nath should be investigated for allegedly using Hockey India funds for the case that I have filed against him in the Delhi High Court, and the amount should be recovered immediately by Hockey India.”Singh has already denied the allegations made by Lakra, calling them baseless. Golla has also rejected the allegations and demanded a fair inquiry.The dispute between HI and Lakra took a further turn when HI’s Ethics Committee, headed by retired Justice Raghvendra Kumar, initiated a fact-finding inquiry into complaints filed against Lakra by Jharkhand player Albela Rani Toppo. Lakra termed the move “intimidation” and urged the sports minister to intervene and stop the Ethics Committee inquiry against her.With IOA now setting up an independent committee to examine Lakra’s allegations, the focus will be on whether the inquiry brings clarity to the competing complaints and establishes accountability.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.