Swimming coach charged with rape of minor girl after video surfaces online

  • IndiaGlitz, [Thursday,September 05 2019]

The chief coach of a Goa state swimming team has been charged with a case of rape after photos and videos of him molesting the 15-year-old girl surfaced online.

This led Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene and promise stringent action against the individual, identified as Surajit Ganguly, who was employed by the Goa Swimming Association (GSA). He was reportedly recommended by parents who had requested the Swimming Association to let him train their kids as he was a good coach. Swimming Federation of India President Digambar Kamat wrote to the Sports Authority of Goa to discontinue his services with immediate effect, after which Surajit Ganguly was sacked.

A stringent action will be taken through Sports Authority. Firstly, it's a heinous crime of serious nature so I'll urge the Police to take stringent penal action against the coach urgently. I've taken a strong view of the incident. The Goa Swimming Association has terminated the contract of coach Surajit Ganguly. I'm asking the Swimming Federation of India to ensure that this coach is not employed anywhere in India. This applies to all Federations & disciplines, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had posted on social media.

A case has been registered against the accused, who is yet to be traced, under IPC sections 376 (rape), 354 (molestation) and 506 (criminal intimidation), as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Goa Children's Act.