Uttarakhand High Court Schedules Hearing on Judo Coach Sexual Assault Allegations

Court Proceedings Set for June 16

The Uttarakhand High Court has scheduled a hearing for June 16 regarding a petition that accuses a judo coach of sexual harassment. This case is being reviewed by a bench comprising Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Subhash Upadhyay.

Allegations from a Young Judo Player

According to the petition, a 19-year-old judo trainee from Dehradun claims to be a national-level competitor in judo and karate, having trained under Savita Gurung for the past seven years in Dehradun.

Controversy Over Training Decisions

The petition further alleges that the athlete was selected for national-level training in Bhopal in 2024. However, instead of allowing her to attend, Savita Gurung sent her to another coach, Satish Sharma, in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Serious Allegations of Misconduct

The judo player claims that during a training session on March 12, 2023, Satish Sharma took her to his farmhouse, locked the gate, and allegedly assaulted her under the pretext of delivering a message.

Threats and Psychological Impact

She stated that when she resisted, the coach threatened to ruin her career and prevent her from participating in national games. Consequently, she was unable to compete in the national games due to the mental trauma she experienced.

Legal Action Taken

On April 28, 2025, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Raipur police station in Dehradun, which was later transferred to the Bhojpur police station in Moradabad by the Dehradun police. The petitioner has requested an investigation by a committee and seeks punishment for the accused coach.