A 17-year-old first-year Pre-University Course (PUC) student undergoing boxing training at a club in Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru was allegedly sexually harassed by her coach over the past few months. Following a complaint filed by the girl's mother, the Sampangiramanagar police arrested the accused, identified as Ramachandra, a 50-year-old native of Tamil Nadu, on Saturday.
Complaint Details
The girl's mother, a resident of east Bengaluru, told police that the coach sexually harassed her daughter and behaved inappropriately over a period of five to six months. The girl has been undergoing training at the club for nearly 10 years. Coach Ramachandra, who joined the club four years ago, had been misbehaving with the girl for the past four years, with the harassment intensifying during the last five to six months.
Incident During Championship
The mother had previously complained about the misconduct to the concerned committee. According to the complaint, on May 17, during a boxing championship competition in Chennai, the coach allegedly called the girl to his private room separately and behaved inappropriately with her. Despite her resistance, he touched her private parts and kissed her. Similar incidents were also alleged to have taken place earlier during training sessions in Bengaluru.
The family stated that the victim remained silent and did not bring the harassment to their notice due to fear and alleged threats by the coach. A senior police officer said a case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 351 (criminal intimidation). Ramachandra has been remanded in judicial custody and lodged in the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara.
