The mess within Hockey India (HI) keeps getting worse.
In a latest development, former India captain and HI Executive Board member Asunta Lakra has been served a show cause notice by the federation’s Ethics Committee on a complaint filed against her by Albela Rani Toppo, also from Jharkhand.
This comes a day after the Sports Ministry, supported by HI president Dilip Tirkey, had asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to conduct an independent enquiry into Asunta’s allegations of sexual harassment of girls in Jharkhand hockey and institutional intimidation by HI secretary general Bholanath Singh.
“It is to inform you that Ms. Albela Rani Toppo has moved two applications against you addressed to the secretary general, Hockey India, dt. 05.04.2026 and 09.07.2026 respectively making certain allegations against you,” the notice issued by Committee chairman Justice (Retd.) Raghvendra Kumar says, seeking a response by July 30.
In response to the notice, Asunta has written to the ministry against what she calls “continued intimidation and retaliation” by HI.
“…initiating a parallel enquiry through Hockey India’s own mechanism raises serious concern about fairness and creates the impression of intimidation and retaliation… I wish to place on record that Bholanath Singh, against whom I raised allegations relating to the handling of the Sudhir Golla matter, is directly connected to the present complaint process. The complaint filed by Ms Toppo has been addressed to him and he has subsequently directed the Ethics Committee to begin proceedings against me.
“The IOA is now seized of this matter and will conduct an impartial inquiry… I humbly request your urgent intervention to ensure that no parallel process is used to intimidate or disadvantage me while the independent inquiry is underway,” Asunta wrote.
Published – July 17, 2026 06:38 pm IST
