PANAJI/NEW DELHI, Sept 5: A case of rape and criminal intimidation was registered against a swimming coach by Goa Police on Thursday.
Surajit Ganguly, a coach employed by the Goa Swimming Association (GSA), is accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl who was training under him.
He was believed to have left for Bhopal, and police would be sending a team there to track him down, said inspector Kapil Nayak of Mapusa police station in Goa.
A purported video of the incident went viral on social media earlier, prompting Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to promise a stringent action.
A case under IPC sections 376 (rape), 354 (molestation) and 506 (criminal intimidation), as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Goa Children�s Act was registered against Ganguly, who is yet untraceable, said inspector Nayak.
The GSA sacked Ganguly after the video surfaced.
�...we terminated Surajit�s contract immediately after watching the video. Both the girl and coach are from (West) Bengal,� GSA secretary Syed Abdul Majid told PTI.
Ganguly was appointed by the GSA about two and a half years ago at its Mapusa indoor swimming training facility.
�We appointed him because he had a good track record as a coach. There were no prior complaints (of misbehaviour) against him,� Majid added.
In 2017, the Goa Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution congratulating him and other coaches for bringing �pride and glory to swimming and diving sports and to the state� in the 63rd National Games.
On Wednesday, based on the girl�s statement, Kolkata Police lodged a complaint against Ganguly, and transferred it to Goa Police. � PTI
