Kabbadi Coach from SAI Hangs Himself After Being Found Guilty Of Sexual Harassment

A Kho Kho and Kabaddi Coach of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Bengaluru, who was recently suspended following charges of sexual harassment of a minor female athlete, was found hanging dead in a hotel room in Harihar Town of Davanagere district, Karnataka on 15th October. A suicidal note addressed to his wife and son, a train ticket and the suspension letter, dated October 11, 2018, from the Director General of Sports Authority of India, were discovered beside the body of the deceased. The body was found in a condition where decomposition had already set in, indicating the time of suicide to be between October 13 and 15.

The allegations

The women’s Kabaddi coach was accused of sexual harassment by a 13-year-old girl, at the SAI training centre (STC). As reported by The Times of India, the alleged molestation incident took place on October 9, in the girls’ dressing room near the kabaddi arena. After the victim raised an alarm and ran out of the dressing room, her parents reached the centre and reportedly assaulted the Coach. Other SAI officials intervened and pacified the upset family.
On October 10, SAI authorities appointed an internal committee to conduct a probe into the allegations. The committee questioned him before placing under suspension. A case was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act based on victim’s complaint at Jnanabharathi police station in Bengaluru. Following the complaint, the coach was asked to report to SAI Headquarter in New Delhi.
Disciplinary actions were being considered in the order issued by SAI Director General Neelam Kapur on 11th October. Excerpts from the slated letter mentioned by The Indian Express states, “Whereas a disciplinary proceeding against Sh R V Hosamani, KKK coach posted at NSSC Bangalore, is contemplated, now, therefore the undersigned in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule 1 of rule 10 of the CCS (CCA) 1965 read with bye-law 40 of SAI service bye-laws 1992 hereby places the said Sh R V Hosamani KKK coach under suspension with immediate effect.”
Further, the order also specified that he should stay at the SAI headquarters in New Delhi during the period of his suspension, and would not be allowed to leave the premises without prior permission of the authorities.

He asked his son to look after his mother

Following his suspension order, the coach, who had been associated with SAI since 1988, left his home informing his family about reporting to SAI Headquarters in New Delhi. However, instead of going to Delhi, he booked a room at a small lodge in Harihar town, approximately 350 km from Bengaluru, where he later killed himself.
Investigating Police Sub-Inspector, Sridhar K, Harihar Town Police Station, told The Logical Indian, “The coach locked him in the room as soon as he reached the hotel on 13th October and did not leave the room even once for next two days. With no activities from the guest, the hotel staff grew suspicious and broke the room lock, only to find him hanging from the ceiling fan. They informed us immediately. On searching the dead body, we found a ticket, a suicide note and a suspension letter from SAI. He addressed his wife and son in the suicide note and requested his son to take care of his mother.” However, he did not mention anything about the allegations in the suicide note.
According to The Indian Express, in his suicide note, he had said, “Please forgive me. I have given you too much trouble. I am longing to see your faces but I do not have my mobile phone with me. My purse does not have a picture of both of you. Son, look after your mother well. May you prosper in your work. God will do good to you. I want to thank all my relatives and friends. If I have hurt anyone, please forgive me. Please donate my body to a hospital.”
Source: The Logical Indian
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