New Delhi: RCB player arrested for allegedly molesting US woman

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, May 18, 2012:  IPL cricketer Luke Pomersbach, a foreign recruit of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, has been arrested for allegedly molesting a woman from the US and allegedly beating up her boyfriend at Delhi five-star hotel, the Maurya Sheraton. The incident reportedly happened after the Delhi Daredevils-Royal Challengers Bangalore match on Thursday evening.

A case has been registered against the 27-year-old Australian player under IPC sections 354 (outraging modesty of woman), 323 (hurt), 454 (lurking house trespass) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment). He has been taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Delhi for medical test. Later he will be produced in court.

 

 

Zohal Hamid, a US national, was allegedly molested by Mr Pomersbach when they were partying in her room at the hotel. The woman alleged that the player was invited with some common friends from Mumbai in their room for some drinks. She alleged the player followed her to the bedroom and misbehaved with her. A scuffle allegedly broke out after her fiance Sahil intervened. Both foreign nationals were reportedly injured and have been admitted to the Primus hospital.

Meanwhile IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said the IPL had nothing to with this because the incident did not take place in any party organised by it. "Let the law take its course," he said.

Denying the charge that IPL was full of controversies, Mr Shukla said IPL 4 and 5 were free of controversies till now. However, BJP MP and former cricketer Kirti Azad alleged that the IPL "has given rise to many unsavoury things. Today’s attempt to rape is one such". He said foreign players were taking advantage of the conditions in India.

The incident comes only a day after Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan was caught in a scuffle with MCA officials at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium on Wednesday night after a match between his team and the Mumbai Indians. The MCA has alleged that the actor had arrived drunk at the stadium after the match and abused and manhandled staff there. The actor has vehemently denied this and said that he was provoked by the highhanded and abusive behaviour of stadium officials.

This also comes very soon after the cash-rich T-20 tournament was rocked by a sting operation conducted by a TV news channel, in which five IPL players were purportedly caught on camera indulging in spot-fixing and other "murky deals." A BCCI inquiry into that will begin today. Ravi Sawani, who heads the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit will conduct the inquiry.

The five accused players have been suspended pending the inquiry report.

 

Courtesy: NDTV