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India's medal glow dimmed by arrest of officials

Officials arrested for Sexual assault and drunken driving

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Indian athletes did not even get the time to celebrate their 64 medals before the contingent, nay the entire Indian sporting community itself, plunged into gloom with the news that two Indian officials, both of them staying outside the Games Village, had been arrested on Saturday evening.

The arrested officials are not just two 'hangers-on' but the secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association, Rajeev Mehta, and a Level 1 international wrestling referee, Virender Malik, one of the only seven recognised by the international body, FILA. Malik was here to officiate in the wrestling competition, which concluded on Thursday.

The officials were returning from a party thrown by gymnastics federation president Jaspal Singh Khandari, to celebrate the historic gymnastics bronze by Dipa Karmakar. The accusation against Malik was levelled by the hotel receptionist who said he molested her while trying to pin a lapel on her dress.

Since the two were arrested on Saturday and the courts are shut on Sunday, they will be produced in court on Monday. But some officials indicated that there could be 'special' hearing late this evening itself, in view of the Games coming to an end today.

The Scottish police, which does not reveal the names of arrested persons, nor the specific charges against them, have, however, confirmed they have been taken in for 'assault'.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman confirmed the arrests but refused to divulge anything more. She told newspersons, "On August 2, a 49-year-old man was arrested following reports of an alleged assault at the City Centre of Glasgow. On August 2, a 45-year-old man was arrested following reports of an alleged assault in the west of Glasgow."
That also confirmed that the two incidents were unrelated.

There is a possibility of the two being let off with fines, warnings and a possible ban on their re-entry into UK for a certain period.

Indications are that with the Indian High Commission officials also getting into the picture, and the 'friendly nature' of the Commonwealth Games and India's relations with the UK, further detention and any severe action here in Glasgow, may not take place, at least in the case of Rajeev Mehta, who was reportedly arrested for driving under influence (of alcohol).

Mehta could be asked to apologise and pay a hefty fine, following which Indian authorities could be asked to take action against him at 'home'. He could however face difficulties in getting permission to enter UK in the near future, since offences related to driving under influence are not tolerated in UK and anything more than one pint of beer or one small measure of whisky could take a person over the limit.

Earlier in the week, an Australian lifter was arrested for assault – headbutting a Welsh lifter following an argument over a woman ­ and then released after 36 hours and asked to pay a fine by the Court.

Malik's case could be differently handled if the 'victim' of the alleged sexual assault – it is not clear what exactly it was – decides to press charges.

Malik's action are also likely to be reported to the International Wrestling Federation, as well as its Indian counterpart and his future as a referee could be over.

Each contingent is provided with a certain number of cars for ferrying officials and athletes are transported around in special vehicles, including buses.

Chef de Mission, Raj Singh, a former wrestler, said that neither official was staying at the Village.

Speaking reluctantly to media, after initially denying that he knew anything at all, he said, "If anything like this has happened, it is shameful. But I am not in a position to do anything. I can only work for the athletes and officials, who are staying in the Village and I am doing so."

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