The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has suspended national-level shooting coach Ankush Bharadwaj after a minor athlete accused him of sexually assaulting her during the National Shooting Championships held last month. The case, registered under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, has triggered serious concerns within India’s shooting fraternity, even as the federation’s president, Kalikesh Singh Deo, has declined to publicly address the matter for now.

Bharadwaj, a resident of Mohali, Punjab, has been booked under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with aggravated sexual assault on a minor, and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to criminal intimidation. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that multiple police teams, including personnel from the crime unit and the women’s police station, are conducting raids to apprehend the accused coach, who is currently absconding.

The alleged incident came to light after the minor shooter, who had been training under Bharadwaj since August last year, lodged a complaint through her family earlier this month. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the girl stated that she was left deeply traumatised following the incident and remained silent for several days. She eventually spoke up on January 1 after her mother persistently questioned her about her disturbed behaviour and emotional distress.

In her complaint, the minor alleged that during the National Championships, Bharadwaj asked her to meet him in the hotel lobby under the pretext of analysing her performance and discussing ways to improve her shooting. When she arrived at the lobby, she was allegedly coerced into accompanying him to his hotel room. It was there, the complaint states, that the sexual assault took place.

The victim further alleged that following the incident, the coach threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed what had happened. According to the FIR, Bharadwaj warned her that he would sabotage her shooting career and cause harm to her family if she spoke about the assault. Fearing for her future in the sport and the safety of her loved ones, the girl said she remained silent until she could no longer cope with the emotional burden.

After the girl confided in her mother, the family approached the police, who registered the case and initiated an investigation. Senior police officials have confirmed that the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness, given the gravity of the allegations and the involvement of a minor. “Dedicated teams have been formed to locate and arrest the accused. We are also ensuring that the victim and her family receive all necessary support,” a police official said.

In response to the allegations, the NRAI moved swiftly to suspend Bharadwaj from all official roles and activities associated with the federation. While the federation has not issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming the suspension, officials indicated that the decision was taken in keeping with safeguarding norms and the organisation’s zero-tolerance stance toward sexual misconduct, especially involving minors.

However, questions directed at NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo regarding the case were met with a refusal to comment at this stage. Speaking to PTI Videos on Monday during an event organised to promote the inaugural edition of the Shooting League of India, Singh Deo declined to address queries related to Bharadwaj and the allegations against him. “I’ll take that question another time,” he said briefly when asked about the issue.

Instead, Singh Deo chose to focus on the launch of the Shooting League of India, a franchise-based domestic competition that is scheduled to begin next month. The league, he said, has been conceptualised as a major step toward strengthening India’s domestic shooting ecosystem, providing greater competitive exposure to athletes, and increasing the sport’s visibility among fans and broadcasters.

According to Singh Deo, the Shooting League of India is designed to be a modern, team-based, and broadcast-friendly platform that can attract new audiences while offering shooters a structured, high-quality competitive environment. He emphasised that the league aims not only to showcase elite talent but also to nurture emerging shooters by allowing them to compete alongside experienced athletes.

Referring specifically to UP Prometheans, one of the franchises participating in the league, Singh Deo said the team reflects the broader vision of blending established shooters with young prospects and expanding the sport’s footprint in regions that have traditionally shown interest in shooting. “Franchises like UP Prometheans play a vital role in building a sustainable ecosystem beyond just competition,” he said. “They help nurture talent, expand audiences, and encourage year-round engagement with the sport.”

While the NRAI leadership highlighted the league’s potential to transform the domestic shooting landscape, the silence surrounding the sexual assault allegations has drawn attention and criticism in some quarters. Athlete safety advocates and former sportspersons have stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and strong institutional responses in cases involving abuse, particularly when minors are concerned.

The case has also renewed scrutiny of safeguarding mechanisms within Indian sport, especially in disciplines where young athletes often train closely with coaches and travel extensively for competitions. Experts have pointed out that while many federations have policies on paper, effective implementation, awareness among athletes and parents, and independent grievance redressal systems remain uneven across sports.

For now, the focus remains on the police investigation and the well-being of the minor involved. Authorities have reiterated that the identity of the victim will be protected in accordance with the law, and that strict action will be taken if the allegations are proven. The NRAI, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure to not only cooperate fully with the investigation but also to clearly articulate its stance on safeguarding and accountability.

As the Shooting League of India prepares for its debut, the sport finds itself at a crossroads — balancing ambitions of growth and professionalisation with the urgent need to ensure a safe, transparent, and ethical environment for its athletes. The outcome of the Bharadwaj case, and the federation’s response to it, is likely to have lasting implications for how shooting and other sports in India address issues of abuse and athlete protection going forward.