The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has suspended shooting coach Ankush Bhardwaj after a minor athlete accused him of sexually assaulting her during the National Championships held last month.
An FIR has been registered against Bhardwaj in Faridabad under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to the NRAI, Bhardwaj, a resident of Mohali, has been booked under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with aggravated sexual assault, and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation.
The federation said it has suspended him with immediate effect and will issue a show-cause notice.
“NRAI has suspended him on moral grounds. He will not be associated with any coaching activity until the inquiry is completed,” NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia said, adding that Bhardwaj would have to establish his innocence through the due process of law.
Bhatia said Bhardwaj had been recommended by the NRAI for inclusion in the 37-member national coaching staff following the Paris Olympics in 2024 and was subsequently appointed by the Sports Authority of India.
He said the alleged incident took place in Surajkund, Faridabad.
As per the FIR, the alleged assault occurred during the National Championships at the Karni Singh Shooting Range last month.
The 17-year-old complainant said she had been training under Bhardwaj since August last year and usually travelled for practice sessions to places such as Mohali, Patiala, Dehradun and Delhi, returning home the same day.
The victim stated that on the day of the incident, she had travelled alone by taxi to compete in the championships.
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After her event, the coach allegedly asked her to stay back to analyse her performance and later called her to meet him at a hotel lobby in the Surajkund area.
She alleged that he then coerced her into accompanying him to his hotel room on the pretext of a detailed discussion.
In her complaint, the minor alleged that the coach sexually assaulted her in the room despite her resistance and later threatened her with consequences for her sporting career if she disclosed the incident.
She said she remained traumatised and silent for days before finally confiding in her mother on January 1 after being repeatedly questioned about her changed behaviour.
The matter is currently under investigation.
