Sarbananda Sonowal assures stern action if charges against officials true

NEW DELHI: Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said if the charges against IOA Secretary General RajeevMehta and an unattached wrestling referee VirenderMalik turn out to be true, stern action would be taken against the two officials.

Mehta and Malik were arrested on different charges by the Scotland police. According to reports, Mehta has been arrested for drunken driving, while Malik is facing a more serious charge of sexual assault.

"The detailed information of the incident is not available with us right now. Our officials have been instructed to communicate with the High Commission and also the local police of Scotland. Whatever information is available with us, they will be provided in the court of law tomorrow and in the court if they (two officials) are proved wrong, law will take its own course," said Sonowal.

"Whatever the media has reported so far, if these are proved to be right, then definitely we will condemn it... because our athletes are putting in their hard work and dedication for the cause of the country. But this kind of incidents definitely hurt every Indian. Stern action will be taken if the allegations are true," he added.

A Scotland Police spokeswoman confirmed the arrests but refused to divulge anything more. The two will be produced in the court tomorrow.

The duo was, however, not staying with the official 215-strong contingent, which is putting up at the Games village. Both of them were reportedly lodged at a local hotel.

India's Chef-de-mission Raj Singh termed the incident "shameful".

"If anything like this happens, it is shameful. But I am not in a position to do anything. I can only work for the athletes and officials, who are staying in the Village and I am doing," said Raj Singh.

Former acting president of the Indian Olympic Association Vijay Kumar Malhotra expressed shock at the arrest of the two officials.