New Delhi:
More controversy has hit IPL season 5. IPL cricketer
Luke Pomersbach, a foreign recruit of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, was 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 was produced at the Patiala House Court, where he fainted and had to be taken out of the courtroom. Mr Pomersbach has been granted interim bail till tomorrow.
His counsel told the court that Mr Pomerbasch was invited for drinks and beaten up by Ms Hamid's finance. The defence also maintained that Mr Pomerbasch didn't go inside with intention of offense.
During the proceedings, the court asked the Delhi Police why they had still not managed to get the CCTV footage from the hotel.
Zohal Hamid, a US national, was allegedly molested by Mr Pomersbach when they were partying in her room at the hotel. Ms Hamid broke down while testifying in court today. She said, "I am not sure about his full name. But he tagged along with us after the party and (insisted) that we have few drinks with him. He told something to my fiance which I did not like".
(Read: Woman says player tried to kiss her)The complainant was admitted to the nearby Primus hospital this morning. Executive Director of the hospital Dr DK Baluja said the complainant was bleeding from his left ear when he was brought to the hospital this morning. He said, "Since the patient complained of delusion, a CT scan was done immediately and the report said that there was no deep head injury". He has been shifted to the ICU and will be under observation for the next 24 hours.
Owner of the Royal Challengers Bangalore Vijay Mallya said Pomersbach will not be playing in the remaining games of the IPL. In a statement issued by the IPL team, it said, "The Royal Challengers Bangalore regrets the incident involving Luke Pomersbach. We will ensure full co-operation with the concerned authorities so that a fair investigation takes place and the issue is disposed off in accordance with law. Pending disposal of this matter Luke Pomersbach will not take the field for The Royal Challengers Bangalore".
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. "We have done away with official parties. So if some individual player does something in his individual capacity in a hotel, IPL has nothing to do with it," Mr Shukla added.
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.