Molestation case: Indian player warned Zohal Hamid to drop case against IPL player Luke Pomersbach?

May 21, 2012

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New Delhi, May 21: In a fresh twist to the alleged molestation of an American national at an IPL party on Friday, an Indian member of IPL's Team Bangalore allegedly helped accused cricketer Luke Pomersbach, first when the Australian tried to enter the victim's room a second time and again by warning her to drop the case.

The victim, Zohal Hamid, told TOI that a "skinny Indian guy" had tried to get Pomersbach into her room after he had attempted to molest her and attacked her partner, Sahil Peerzada. The same man, she said, approached her at Primus Hospital later that day, and asked her to withdraw the charges against his teammate.

Based on CCTV footage, police have identified the cricketer as K P Appanna, a left-arm spinner from Karnataka who has played several games for Team Bangalore in the current IPL season. Despite several attempts, the team management could not be contacted on phone, and did not answer an e-mailed questionnaire on Appanna's alleged role in the affair.

Delhi Police officials said they would investigate the matter. "This is a fresh allegation and we are investigating it. We have identified the man with Luke in the CCTV footage as IPL player Appanna," said Additional CP (New Delhi) K C Dwivedi.

The CCTV footage obtained from the hotel shows Luke, along with hotel security guard Vikas Yadav and another man - identified by cops as Appanna - walking out of the lift towards Zohal's hotel room.

While the man, along with the guard, is seen walking towards the room, Luke hangs back. The Australian later walks towards the room and then backtracks after being refused entry.


Delhi Police officials told TOI that Appanna had come to ask Zohal if a Bangalore team official was in the room. Zohal claimed to TOI that when she opened the door slightly, the "skinny Indian guy" tried to force it open, even as Luke too tried to barge in.

"I was trying to close the door because I was already very frightened and Sahil was lying inside the room all bloody and beaten up. The skinny Indian guy and Luke tried to open the door while I had to force it shut. The hotel guard was standing outside doing nothing to help me," she alleged.

Zohal told TOI that she was approached by different men at the Primus Hospital and later at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel who threatened her, and asked her to drop the charges against Luke. Among these men, the same "skinny Indian guy" threatened her, she said.

"There was a big white guy with Luke at the hospital on Friday morning. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt or a shirt and wanted to talk to me. He was outside the hospital entrance and kept saying something to me. All I heard was 'Drop the charges' and I ran inside the building to avoid him," she said.

Later, when Sahil's wound was being stitched, Zohal said another person approached her but she refused to speak to him. "He was this short chubby guy and said that he was from the IPL team. He identified himself as Avinash and gave my friend his number, asking me to call him. I was really scared."

She said that this person was accompanied by the same "skinny Indian guy" who had tried to enter her hotel room along with Luke earlier in the day. "This skinny Indian guy kept following me back and forth, while I was rushing around inside the hospital. I screamed at him, 'Leave me alone' but he would not let me go and kept following me. He told me, 'Withdraw the case. It's not going to take you anywhere', but I rushed away from him. I mentioned this to the police as well but they have not written it in the FIR," she said.

She also said that when she returned to the hotel on Friday morning to collect her belongings, there were five-six "white men" waiting at the entrance of her room to speak to her. "I rushed inside. The men wanted to speak to me but I was in shock and felt in danger after what had taken place a short while ago. I didn't allow anyone to come into my room. Even when we were leaving, the men were still standing there and tried to talk to me."


Zohal said cops had told her that they would scrutinize the CCTV footage, adding that these incidents took place between 10 and 11.20am. "I can identify the guys if I see the footage. One of them had either white or sharp blonde hair," she said.

Asked about the allegations, additional CP Dwivedi said, "The FIR was registered at 10.30am and the alleged incident happened at 11.30am when she went to pick up her clothing. Moreover, the statement on which the FIR was based was in English, dictated and signed by her."

Meanwhile, cops recorded Sahil Peerzada's statement. "He told us that he and Zohal had moved to Maurya Sheraton from Hotel Leela on May 16. The room had been booked through Hyderabad IPL team owner Venkat Ram under Sahil's name. He said after the party on Friday morning, Luke accompanied them to his suite for drinks and then molested the complainant. When Sahil tried to stop him, Luke punched him repeatedly and he fell down," a senior officer said.


Sahil also said Zohal was his girlfriend and that he had known her for six years, the officer said.

Cops are waiting to record the statements of Sahil's friends Miraz and Moiz, who were inside the hotel room at the time of the alleged incident. "Both flew to Mumbai on Friday, after Sahil was admitted in hospital. We have asked them to come to Delhi to give their statement on what took place inside room 1640, where Zohal and Sahil were staying. We will be questioning them closely as soon as they come to Delhi," said a senior police officer.

Cops claim that they want submit the case chargesheet soon, and are hoping to finish their investigations within a fortnight.

Meanwhile, as rumours did the rounds that Zohal had earlier been married to Mumbai-based businessman Shlok Bhagtiani, Zohal told TOI, "I know him as Sahil's friend. Sahil tells me he has known Shlok for two years."



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News Network
July 6,2020

New Delhi, Jul 6: India's cricket chief Sourav Ganguly says improved fitness standards and a change in culture have led to the country developing one of the world's best pace attacks.

Spearheads Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are part of a battery of five formidable quick bowlers that have helped change India's traditional reliance on spin bowling.

"You know culture has changed in India that we can be good fast bowlers," Ganguly said in a chat hosted on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Twitter feed.

"Fitness regimes, fitness standards not only just among fast bowlers but also among the batters, that has changed enormously. That has made everyone understand and believe that we are fit, we are strong and we can also bowl fast like the others did."

The West Indies dominated world cricket in the 1970s and 1980s led by a fearsome pace attack that included all-time greats such as Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner.

Recently Indian quicks have risen to the top in world cricket with Shami, Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a deadly arsenal.

"The West Indies in my generation were naturally strong," the former India captain said.

"We Indians were never such naturally strong... but we worked hard to get strong. But I think it is the change in culture as well that is very important."

Shami last month claimed that the current Indian pace attack may be the best in Test history.

"You and everyone else in the world will agree to this -- that no team has ever had five fast bowlers together as a package," said Shami.

"Not just now, in the history of cricket, this might be the best fast-bowling unit in the world."

Shami took 13 wickets during India's 3-0 home Test sweep over South Africa last year, while Bumrah has claimed 68 scalps in 14 Tests since his debut.

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News Network
April 30,2020

New Delhi, Apr 30: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday mourned the demise of veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, called his death 'unreal and unbelievable' loss.

"This is unreal and unbelievable. Yesterday Irrfan Khan and today Rishi Kapoor ji. It's hard to accept this as a legend passes away today. My condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace," Kohli tweeted.

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
"It's shocking to hear about the sudden demise of #RishiKapoor ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace," Dhawan tweeted.

Earlier today, actor Amitabh Bachchan confirmed the news of the demise of the 67-year-old Rishi Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.

In September 2019, the veteran actor returned to Mumbai after staying in New York for almost a year for cancer treatment.

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News Network
June 20,2020

Jun 20: Bengaluru FC (BFC) have signed Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva for a one-year deal, the ISL club said in a statement on Saturday.

As per the agreement, BFC have the option of extending Silva's contract for another year.

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Silva, who also operates on the wing, became the first foreign player to reach the 100-goal mark in Thailand and finished top scorer of the Thai League 1 for two seasons. He also tops the charts of the all-time leading scorers of the League.

His biggest success came at Muangthong where he racked up 57 goals in 79 appearances and won three major trophies in as many seasons at the club.

The Brazilian, who was in talks with the Blues last season before the deal didn't materialise, said he was glad to have finally made the move.

"I've signed with Bengaluru FC because I want to be a champion and this is a club that is always after titles. I have that opportunity once again at BFC. I want to make the club and its fans happy. I have been following the club for some time now because we were in talks a while ago. And I liked what I saw. I am looking forward to making my way to Bengaluru and am excited to meet my new teammates, the fans and embrace the city," said Silva.

Silva, thus, became BFC's first new foreign signing of the season after the club had handed extended deals with Juanan Gonzalez, Dimas Delgado and Erik Paartalu.

Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat said Silva's addition was an important one, given his penchant for scoring.

"Cleiton has a proven track record when it comes to scoring and this is an area we needed to strengthen on the squad. The goals aside, he even has an eye for a quality final pass and we're looking forward to working with him," he said.

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