M A I N   N E W S

I unintentionally touched Hamid: Luke

New Delhi, May 21
Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach, arrested on charges of molesting an American woman, has told police that he "unintentionally" touched the victim, investigators claimed today as another cricketer whose name cropped up during probe recorded his statement.

KP Appanna, the teammate of Pomersbach, recorded his statement during which he denied allegations that he tried to barge into the room of the victim with the Australian cricketer.

Investigators claimed that Pomersbach told them that he "unintentionally touched her and was under the influence of alcohol" when the incident took place. Pomersbach or his lawyer could not be contacted for comments.

Pomersbach was arrested on Friday after Zohal Hamid alleged that he molested her and hit her fiance Sahil Peerzada when he objected to the cricketer's behaviour. Peerzada was punched in his ear following which he had to undergo a surgery.

Police sources said that the name of Appanna cropped up in the case after he was identified in a CCTV footage. He was seen accompanying Pomersbach to the room of the victim.

Police sources said the 23-year-old left-arm spinner denied that he tried to force into the room of Hamid and Peerzada as alleged. He also denied the allegations that he threatened Hamid to withdraw the case against Pomersbach, they said.

However, sources claimed he told police that he accompanied Pomersbach when he went to the victim's room for the second time.

A senior police official earlier said they had examined the CCTV footages and identified Appanna. "We had spoken to him earlier. Now, his statement has been recorded," the official said.

Hamid had alleged that some team members of Luke had pressurised her to withdraw the case. — PTI