KOLKATA: Hockey India’s Ethics Committee has launched an inquiry into the allegations against former India women’s hockey captain and Executive Board member Asunta Lakra.The development comes a day after it was reported that the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports had asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a neutral, fair and transparent committee to investigate Lakra’s allegations against Hockey India general secretary and Hockey Jharkhand president Bhola Nath Singh and former coach Sudhir Golla. The ministry also sought an explanation from Hockey India.In a statement issued by Justice (Retd.) Raghvendra Kumar, chairman of the Hockey India Ethics Committee, Lakra was informed that Jharkhand player Albela Rani Toppo had filed two complaints against him, addressed to the general secretary of Hockey India on April 5 and July 9.“Vide Hockey India’s letter dated 10.07.2026, I have been asked to verify the facts of the allegations against you. Both the complaints have been sent to you with instructions to submit your reply(s) before July 30, 2026,” said the letter, which TOI has.It also states that if no answer is given within the set time, “it will be deemed that you have not made any statement in your defense and the fact-finding investigation will be conducted in accordance with the procedure and law.”In response, Lakra said, “I will follow the instructions of the Ministry of Sports and put my views before the committee that has been set up to review the matter. But sending this information at this time is not just to intimidate me.”Earlier, the ministry had written to Hockey India President, Dilip Tirkey, asking the organization to place Lakra’s complaint before its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the provisions of the Sexual Offenses at Work (Prohibition, Prohibition and Remedial) Act, 2013 and sought a report on the outcome.Following the communication, Tirkey wrote to the ministry asking for an independent inquiry into Lakra’s allegations and informing the members of Hockey India’s Executive Board about the same.Hockey India vice-president Asima Ali backed Lakra, saying he would look into the federal administration’s handling of the matter.“The proper and effective implementation of the Sports Code of India in Hockey will be overseen by me… and if any injustice or injustice is done, I will include it in my further complaint to the Hon’ble Delhi High Court without delay. I also give my full support to Ms. Asunta Lakra,” Ali wrote on social media.Lakra claims that Singh threatened her after she raised concerns about the security allegedly being provided to Golla by Hockey Jharkhand. He has also accused Golla of threatening female players after accusations of harassment. Both Singh and Golla have denied the allegations.
