PT Usha-led IOA forms panel to probe sexual harassment allegations against Hockey India secretary

NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has set up a four-member independent commission of inquiry to probe allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Hockey India secretary Bhola Nath Singh by former Indian hockey captain Asunta Lakra.The committee was constituted based on the directive of the Union Ministry of Sports. It will be headed by retired High Court judge Deepa Sharma, with former athlete Vandana Rao, former Indian women’s hockey captain Mamta Kharb and lawyer Sitwat Nabi as members.Lakra, who is also a member of Hockey India’s executive board, accused Singh of threats and harassment after she objected to the alleged sexual harassment of girls in Jharkhand by local coach Sudhir Golla.The IOA directed Hockey India to bear all expenses related to the commission of inquiry, including honorarium, travel, accommodation and other incidental expenses.“Hockey India is also requested to extend its full cooperation to the committee and ensure that all relevant documents, information and such other assistance as may be required are made available to the committee in time…,” IOA president PT Usha said in a letter to Hockey India quoted by news agency PTI.The dispute between Lakra and Hockey India also led to a separate inquiry by the federation’s ethics committee.Hockey India’s ethics committee issued a show-cause notice to Lakra and launched an investigation after young player Albela Rani Toppo accused the former captain of threats and intimidation. Toppo, who is also from Jharkhand, alleged that Lakra threatened to end her career for unspecified reasons.Lakra rejected Hockey India’s action, calling it “continued intimidation and retaliation”. She appealed to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviy to intervene and stop the ethics commission’s investigation against her.The Sports Ministry had earlier asked the IOA to set up an independent panel to probe Lakra’s sexual harassment allegations against the Hockey India secretary.