Hockey India slaps show cause notice on Asunta; latter calls it ‘retaliation’
Hockey India has issued a show cause notice to executive board member Asunta Lakra following complaints from a colleague. Lakra has characterized the move as retaliation for her previous allegations of sexual harassment and institutional intimidation within the federation.
Why it matters
The internal conflict within Hockey India highlights governance issues and the challenges of addressing sexual harassment allegations in national sports federations.
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.
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