A fast track special court in Sonipat has sentenced national level archery coach Kuldeep Vedwan to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case relates to the molestation of a minor girl archer during a youth championships meet in April 2023.
Background of the Convict
Vedwan, 42, a native of Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh, had been associated with India’s national archery setup. He was known for nurturing para-archery talents, including Paris Paralympics bronze medallists Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag. Before the allegations surfaced, Vedwan personally coached Sheetal during her formative years at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board archery academy in Katra, Jammu. Sources indicate that there is disquiet in certain quarters because Vedwan’s wife, Abhilasha Chaudhary, has been recommended by the selection committee for this year’s Dronacharya Award despite objections.
The Incident
According to the prosecution, the complainant, now a national-level archer, had arrived at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Sonipat centre in April 2023 to participate in youth championships trials organised by the Archery Association of India (AAI). The minor alleged that around 4 am on April 7, 2023, Vedwan entered her hotel room and attempted to sexually assault her while she was asleep. She woke up and resisted, telling investigators that the struggle continued for nearly 15 to 20 minutes before the coach fled the room. Traumatised, she rushed to another room occupied by fellow female archers.
Subsequent Harassment
The athlete alleged that later, Vedwan apologised to her and pleaded with her not to disclose the incident, saying his “life and career would be ruined”. According to the complaint, the coach allegedly continued pressuring her during subsequent hotel stays and insisted that she stay in his room. He allegedly promised to make her a “big player” if she cooperated with him.
The court’s verdict brings a measure of justice to the victim, highlighting the importance of stringent laws like the POCSO Act in protecting minors from sexual offences. The case also underscores the need for vigilance in sports institutions to prevent such incidents.
