Uttarakhand High Court Grants Bail To Hockey Coach Accused Of Raping Minor Player During National Games Camp

The Uttarakhand High Court has granted bail to a National Hockey Coach accused under the POCSO Act in connection with allegations of rape of a minor player while attending a hockey camp for selection to the National Games in 2025. Justice Alok Mahra was dealing with a bail application filed by an accused arrested in connection with offences under Sections 64(2)(f)(rape), 127(2) (wrongful confinement) BNS and Sections 5(N) (penetrative sexual assault by relative of the child through blood or adoption or marriage or guardianship or in foster care or having a domestic relationship with a parent of the child or who is living in the same or shared household with the child, commits penetrative sexual assault on such child) and 6 (Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act. The complaint was filed by the father of the victim alleging that he received a phone call from an Assistant Hockey Coach informing him that his daughter, who was attending a hockey camp for selection to the National Games, had been raped by the applicant. It was alleged that when the complainant and family members reached the hostel, the police was already present there and the applicant was arrested from the spot. The FIR further stated that blood was profusely coming out from the private parts of the victim.The applicant, on the other hand, relied on the medical examination report to contend that the victim was undergoing her menstrual cycle at the relevant point of time and that the doctor had opined there was excessive bleeding on that account. It was further submitted that the medical certificate recorded no injury, no live spermatozoa in the vaginal swab, and no sign of sexual intercourse in the private parts of the victim. The applicant further contended that he had been falsely implicated after the victim allegedly pressured him to include her in the team and he asked her to rely on her talent for selection.Further submissions were made on the account that the applicant was a recognized National Hockey Coach for the last four years and had no previous criminal history. Reliance was also placed on the fact that though an application had been moved seeking preservation of CCTV footage, however the Hostel Authorities informed the Court that the DVR memory was full and the recording of the relevant incident was not available.The applicant also pointed to contradictions in the statements of the complainant and the victim, including the statement of the complainant as PW1 that he had not lodged the FIR and that it was lodged by the Assistant Hockey Coach. It was further argued that even if the allegations in the FIR were accepted on their face value, the entire incident having occurred within fifteen minutes was highly improbable. The State opposed the bail application."Considering the above facts and also considering the fact that applicant is in judicial custody since 06.01.2026 and furthermore the complainant and the victim have been examined and there are no chances of tampering with the evidences or influencing the witnesses, this Court is of the view that it is a case fit for bail and the applicant deserves to be enlarged on bail. The bail application is allowed," the court said. Accordingly, the applicant was directed to be released on bail on furnishing personal bond and sureties to the satisfaction of the Court concerned.Case No: BA1 No. 1159 of 2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

Uttarakhand High Court Grants Bail To Hockey Coach Accused Of Raping Minor Player During National Games Camp

Preet Luthra

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