Hockey India launches ethics probe against Asunta Lakra; Former India captain warns of ‘intimidation’

KOLKATA: Hockey India’s ethics committee has launched an investigative probe into complaints filed against former Indian women’s hockey captain and executive committee member Asunta Lakrova.The development comes a day after it was revealed that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a neutral, fair and transparent committee to probe the allegations leveled by Lakra against Hockey India general secretary and Hockey Jharkhand president Bhola Nath Singh and former coach Sudhir Goll. The ministry also sought an explanation 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 General Secretary on April 5 and July 9.“Vide Hockey India’s letter dated 10.07.2026, I have been requested to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the allegations leveled against you. Copies of both the complaints are hereby forwarded to you with instructions to file a reply/reply to them by 30 July 2026,” said the letter, a copy of which is in TOI’s possession.It further states that if you do not receive any response within the stipulated period, “you are deemed to have no need to say anything in your defence, and the fact-finding inquiry will therefore proceed in accordance with established procedure and law”.Reacting to the development, Lakra said, “I will follow the instructions of the Sports Ministry and submit my version to the constituted committee to investigate 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 asking the federation to refer Lakra’s complaint before its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and seeking a report on the outcome.Following the announcement, Tirkey wrote to the ministry requesting an independent inquiry into Lakra’s allegations and informed the Hockey India executive board about it.Hockey India vice-president Asima Ali backed Lakra, saying she would closely monitor the federation’s handling of the matter.“I will see to the proper and fair implementation of the Sports Code of India in Hockey… and in case of any unfair or unfair practices I will without delay include it in my pending petition before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. I also extend my full support to Ms. Asunta Lakra,” Ali wrote in a social media post.Lakra alleged that Singh threatened her after she raised concerns about the alleged protection given to Goll by Hockey Jharkhand. She also accused Golla of intimidating female players after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against him. Both Singh and Golla have denied the allegations.