Asunta Lakra Challenges Ethics Committee Inquiry in Hockey India

Asunta Lakra, the former captain of the Indian women's hockey team, has raised serious concerns regarding the inquiry procedures of Hockey India's Ethics Committee. She has labeled the allegations against her as malicious and defamatory, while also questioning the legitimacy of the committee's authority. Lakra's response highlights procedural lapses and calls for an independent investigation into the matter. With the Indian Olympic Association being urged to step in, the situation raises significant questions about governance within sports organizations. Read on to discover the full details of this unfolding controversy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 6, 2026, 23:37 IST

Concerns Raised Over Inquiry Procedures

Asunta Lakra, the former captain of the Indian women's hockey team, has raised concerns regarding the procedural shortcomings in the inquiry initiated by Hockey India's Ethics Committee. In her initial response, which has been obtained by a News Media outlet, she described the allegations against her as malicious, motivated, and defamatory.

Allegations and Response

Justice (retd) Raghvendra Kumar, who chairs the Ethics Committee, issued a show-cause notice to Lakra following a complaint from hockey player Albela Rani Toppo. Toppo accused Lakra of threatening her career within the Railways and claimed she would be excluded from the senior national team camp.

Lakra firmly denied these allegations, labeling them as false and a complete misrepresentation of the facts. She stated, "The allegations are false, baseless, malicious, motivated, defamatory and are a complete distortion of facts."

Critique of the Ethics Committee's Authority

Asunta, who also serves on Hockey India's executive committee, criticized the Ethics Committee for not adhering to the established by-laws. She emphasized that the committee does not possess original or suo-moto jurisdiction, and any complaint must first be reviewed and referred in writing by the president of Hockey India. Until such a reference is made, the committee cannot initiate any inquiry.

She further questioned the legitimacy of the inquiry initiated by secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who is himself facing complaints from Lakra regarding threats related to her allegations of sexual harassment against coach Sudhir Golla.

Call for Independent Investigation

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been urged by the sports ministry to establish an independent committee to investigate the claims made by Lakra.

Lakra pointed out that if the letter dated July 10, 2026, was issued by or at the behest of the secretary general, it would further invalidate the reference. She argued that a person with a vested interest in the outcome should not serve as the referring authority, as it violates the principle that one cannot be a judge in their own case.

Scope of the Complaints

Lakra also contended that the complaint filed against her by Toppo falls outside the Ethics Committee's jurisdiction. She noted that the grievances primarily pertain to Toppo's employment with the South Eastern Railway and her role in the Hockey Jharkhand team, as well as incidents that allegedly occurred during the All India Indian Railways Women’s Hockey Championships, 2026, which is organized by the Railways Sports Promotion Board, not Hockey India.

She concluded by stating that the reliefs sought by the complainant, including job protection and personal security, are beyond the Ethics Committee's authority, rendering the complaints misconceived.