Goa police on Saturday (Mar 30) evening arrested All India Football Federation (AIFF) official Deepak Sharma over the complaint alleging physical assault on two women footballers, hours after the sports ministry took cognisance of the issue.
Sharma has been accused of the assault whilst being drunk. The shocking development came to light after the alleged victims filed a complaint with the AIFF's competitions committee.
«AIFF executive committee member Deepak Sharma was called for questioning during the day after a formal complaint was received. He was arrested by Mapusa police under various sections, including causing hurt, using force against women, among others,» Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandesh Chodankar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Sharma will remain in custody for the night before being produced in court on Sunday for remand, the police officials informed.
The complaint filed by Palak Verma and Ritika Thakur alleges that Sharma entered their room in an inebriated state, while they were boiling eggs for dinner. The high-ranking official then allegedly slapped both of them after getting offended.
Notably, Verma and Thakur are part of the women's team that is currently in Goa to take part in the Women’s League 2 — the second division of women’s football in India. Both the footballers play for Khad FC, a team from the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
Khad FC had filed the complaint at the Mapusa Police Station after which the authorities took note and registered a case under sections 323,341 and 354A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly known as IPC).
Sports ministry intervenes
Earlier in the day, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the ministry had taken note of the incident
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