Case against Indian hockey player and Tokyo medallist Varun Kumar for raping teen on pretext of marriage

The complaint was lodged by a 22-year-old woman who accused Varun of rape under the guise of marriage.

Varun Kumar

On Tuesday, the Karnataka Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Indian hockey player Varun Kumar. The complaint was lodged by a 22-year-old woman who accused Varun of rape under the guise of marriage.

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According to the woman, she was 17 years old when she first met Varun through Instagram in 2019, and they subsequently met in person on multiple occasions. In the FIR, the woman alleged that Varun insisted on meeting her and she relented after some of his friends convinced her. The two eventually became friends and got into a relationship.

Allegedly, Varun engaged in sexual intercourse with her while he was in Bengaluru for the national camp for the Indian men's hockey team at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in the city. The woman alleged that he took her to a hotel in Bengaluru's Jayanagar in July 2019 and had physical relations with her, knowing that she was a minor. Despite her resistance, she claims he promised to advance their relationship and marry her in the future.

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This development emerged just days before the commencement of the FIH Pro League season 2023-24, with India slated to face Spain at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. While Varun was named in the 24-member squad, reports indicate he is currently on the run. "He is on the run, and efforts are underway to locate him," officials stated, noting that police are actively searching for him in Jalandhar, according to India Today.

However, a source from Hockey India dismissed these claims, stating, "He is not absconding. He is in Bhubaneswar with the team," according to PTI.

Who is Varun Kumar?

Varun Kumar has been a regular fixture in the Indian men's hockey team for several years and was on the standby list for the historic bronze medal-winning squad at the Tokyo Olympics. He also played a crucial role in the team's gold medal triumph at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China.

Originally from Himachal Pradesh, Varun Kumar relocated to Punjab for hockey and made his debut for the Indian team in 2017. He also secured a silver medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

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