Rape-accused Varun pulls out of Pro League

Indian hockey defender Varun Kumar, who has been accused of rape under POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences), has pulled out of the FIH Pro League that commences in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

- Sandip Sikdar

The 28-year-old wrote a letter to Hockey India (HI) president Dilip Tirkey, also marked to secretary general Bhola Nath Singh and chief coach Craig Fulton, on Wednesday requesting 'urgent leave' to avail 'legal remedies and legal rights', adding that he will 'not be in a position to participate in the Pro League'.

"As the matter is currently under investigation, we would not be commenting on the matter," Bhola Nath said on Thursday.

Bengaluru police, on Monday, had registered a case against Varun on the complaint of a 21-year-old woman who had alleged that she was sexually assaulted many times over the last five years, since when she was a minor. The Olympic bronze medallist has been booked under Section 4 (2), 5 (L), 6 of the POCSO Act and IPC Section 376 (3) for raping a woman under 16 years of age and 420 (cheating).