New Delhi, July 24
Hockey India has gone beyond the suggestions of the five-member committee appointed by it to inquire into the sexual harassment allegation levelled by woman hockey player Ranjitha Devi against chief coach Maharaj Kishan Kaushik and recommended a stern against the latter as it “felt that the written complaint of the player commands high credibility”

In a hurriedly called media briefing here this evening,

Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra said the recommendation along with all the correspondence pertaining to the case has been forwarded to the Sports Ministry and the Delhi Police.

Taking a strong stand, HI also said that it will not avail the services of Kaushik ( who has resigned) and videographer Basavraj ( who has been sacked).

The national federation felt that the written version of the player commanded “high credibility” with specific charges being levelled againt Kaushik, said Batra. Evidence provided by Ranjitha's to the HI panel was a clinching factor as the latter had no doubt about its verasity, he added..

He said the committee, which probed the allegations, should have “recommended action and not merely suggested action to the Ministry of Sports.”

“We feel that the committee does not have coercive powers to go into the issue. In view of the Supreme Court judgement in the Visakha case regarding sexual harassment at work place, which relates to Section 354 of IPC (relating to outraging the modesty of a woman), we are marking a copy to the Delhi Police Commissioner for taking suo moto notice,” he said.

“We want the case to be pursued to its logical end. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports can take appropriate action after proper inquiry as both Kaushik and viedographer Basavaraja were employees of the Sports

Authority of India,” said Batra. The two-page recommendation has been signed by HI president Vidya Stokes. “Hockey India feels that this is a serious issue and needs to be investigated urgently and this case should become an example so that such incidents never occur in Indian sporting arena,” reads Stokes’ letter to the ministry.

The documents forwarded to the ministry included the four-page handwritten letter by Ranjitha Devi, the statements of core group coaches, Vasu Thapliyal and Kahlid Modi, and Kaushik’s four-page e-mailed response.

Copies of the report have also been forwarded to Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, Railway Sports Control Board Secretary Jhanjha Tripathi (13 of the girls are Railway employees), director general of the SAI, joint secretary of sports and the three parties concerned.

Kaushik in his defence had said: “The allegations leveled against me are absolutely baseless and part of a larger conspiracy.”