The recent allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation within
Sources from the ministry have confirmed that the sports ministry has requested the IOA to establish a neutral and transparent committee to thoroughly examine the allegations against HI's secretary general,
Hockey India's Response to Allegations
The ministry's involvement follows a formal request from Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, who reached out to the ministry on Wednesday. In his correspondence, Tirkey acknowledged the conflict of interest that arises from both the complainant and the accused being members of the Executive Board. He stated, “It would not be appropriate for Hockey India to conduct its own inquiry as this may give rise to concerns regarding impartiality. Accordingly, I have requested the sports secretary to constitute an independent committee... Hockey India will extend its full cooperation.” This statement reflects the federation's commitment to transparency in addressing the allegations.
In a related development, a group of 13 national and international players from Jharkhand has legally contested the upcoming Hockey Jharkhand elections, which are set for July 19. The group, which includes notable players such as Manohar Topno and Sumrai Tete, has raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of Bholanath Singh's continued presidency, claiming he is serving an illegal fourth term. They allege that the elections violate the National Sports Governance Act, further complicating the governance landscape within the sport.
