INDORE : Two Australian women cricketers were allegedly stalked and molested by a man on a street here on Thursday morning. The cricketers, who reached Indore on Oct 17 to participate in their group match against South Africa on Saturday in the ICC Women’s World Cup, were accosted while they were going to a café in the city’s Saket area from their hotel around 11am in Indore’s upmarket Vijay Nagar area.
Police have arrested the accused, Akil Khan, after going through CCTV footage following a complaint by Australian team’s security manager Danny Simmons late on Thursday evening.
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According to the FIR filed by Simmons, the incident happened barely 500m from the team hotel when a bikeborne person rode up to them twice and molested them before fleeing the area.
“The incident was brought to the notice of the police by BCCI. Multiple teams were deployed, and after extensive effort, the accused was traced and apprehended. He attempted to flee and even tried to jump into a sewage drain. Based on the complaint of the Australian team’s security manager, a case was registered at MIG police station,” Indore police commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh said on Saturday.
“Whenever an international event is underway, specific security protocols are laid down by all stakeholders involved. An investigation will determine at which level those protocols failed or were not followed,” said Singh.
“A case was registered on Thursday night and the accused identified and arrested in an intensive strategic operation,” additional DCP (crime branch) Rajesh Dandotiya said.
MIG police register FIR following Simmons’ plaint
None of the Australian players appeared at the ceremonial post-match press conference at Holkar Stadium on Saturday, despite a commanding win over South Africa. Australian coach Shelley Nitschke represented the team, addressing the media while the team chose not to respond to questions regarding the incident.
Australia defeated South Africa in a commanding display at Holkar Stadium, restricting them to a total of just 97 runs. The match, which drew hundreds of fans eager to witness the ICC Women’s World Cup clash, was the final fixture of the tournament scheduled in the city.
“We had received a complaint from the security manager of the Australian team stating that two female players had faced inappropriate behaviour while walking to a cafe from their hotel on Thursday morning. A case was registered on Thursday night at MIG police station and the accused Akil Khan was identified and arrested in an intensive strategic operation. He was produced before the court and sent to jail on Saturday,” additional DCP (crime branch) Rajesh Dandotiya said.
A total of five matches, including the Australia-South Africa clash on Saturday, have been held at the Holkar Stadium here and many of the teams have stayed at the same hotel. Following Simmons’ complaint, lodged at MIG police station late on Thursday evening, an FIR was registered under Sections 74 and 78 of the BNS for assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and stalking.
According to the FIR, the incident took place around 11am when the two players had stepped out of the hotel to visit a nearby café after informing Simmons.
“At approximately 11am, two players advised me they were leaving the hotel to go to a cafe. They were planning to walk to the cafe and I had no concerns with this as they had previously been to the cafe as have several members of the Australian team,” Simmons mentioned in the FIR.
“I received a live location notification from one of the players on my mobile phone at 11.08am. This message signifies an emergency distress signal to me from a player to advise they may need assistance. The players were about 500m from the hotel when she sent me a message saying a man on a motorcycle had approached them and tried to grab one of them before being confronted. He again came behind another player and touched her inappropriately before he drove off,” the FIR said.
The incident took place in Indore’s MIG area, primarily a marketplace, between their hotel and the café in Saket.
Simmons said that the player texted him, “Hey SoS, just sending you my live location... there’s a guy following us trying to grab us.”
The man was described as around 30 years old, wearing a white shirt and black cap, and riding a black motorcycle without a helmet.
The team’s liaison officers were informed and directed to go to the location to assist the players. A police patrol unit later reached the spot and escorted the cricketers back to their hotel. The complaint stated that the player later messaged again, informing Simmons that local police had arrived and helped them return safely.
“I received a further message stating that a nice man in a suit in a car stopped and asked if we were alright and stated that he rang police with the guy’s bike number,” Simmons mentioned in the FIR.
Ayush Jain, owner of the café, which is about 5km from the hotel the Australian team was staying in, told TOI, “Many of the Australian team members have been visiting our café in groups of threefour ever since they reached Indore on Oct 17. Nobody in the neighbourhood knew their identity, except us, since the café is thronged by many foreigners who check into nearby hotels.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) on Saturday said it is examining “whether the players had sought security cover for the movement outside the hotel.”
“The Australian team has a security officer appointed by Cricket Australia along with two security officers appointed by BCCI and the local police. It shall be examined whether the players had sought security cover or not," MPCA chief administrative officer Rohit Pandit told TOI .
“Extremely pained and hurt by the unfortunate incident that took place with the two members of the Australian women’s cricket team. No woman deserves to face such inappropriate behaviour. This incident is painful for not just the players but for the state and city too. Madhya Pradesh, especially Indore, has always been known for its hospitality, ensuring respect and safety for its guests. This inappropriate behaviour by one person has harmed this reputation and we are all extremely sorry for this,” MPCA president Mahanaryaman Scindia posted on X.
Police have arrested the accused, Akil Khan, after going through CCTV footage following a complaint by Australian team’s security manager Danny Simmons late on Thursday evening.
Video
According to the FIR filed by Simmons, the incident happened barely 500m from the team hotel when a bikeborne person rode up to them twice and molested them before fleeing the area.
“The incident was brought to the notice of the police by BCCI. Multiple teams were deployed, and after extensive effort, the accused was traced and apprehended. He attempted to flee and even tried to jump into a sewage drain. Based on the complaint of the Australian team’s security manager, a case was registered at MIG police station,” Indore police commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh said on Saturday.
“Whenever an international event is underway, specific security protocols are laid down by all stakeholders involved. An investigation will determine at which level those protocols failed or were not followed,” said Singh.
“A case was registered on Thursday night and the accused identified and arrested in an intensive strategic operation,” additional DCP (crime branch) Rajesh Dandotiya said.
MIG police register FIR following Simmons’ plaint
None of the Australian players appeared at the ceremonial post-match press conference at Holkar Stadium on Saturday, despite a commanding win over South Africa. Australian coach Shelley Nitschke represented the team, addressing the media while the team chose not to respond to questions regarding the incident.
Australia defeated South Africa in a commanding display at Holkar Stadium, restricting them to a total of just 97 runs. The match, which drew hundreds of fans eager to witness the ICC Women’s World Cup clash, was the final fixture of the tournament scheduled in the city.
“We had received a complaint from the security manager of the Australian team stating that two female players had faced inappropriate behaviour while walking to a cafe from their hotel on Thursday morning. A case was registered on Thursday night at MIG police station and the accused Akil Khan was identified and arrested in an intensive strategic operation. He was produced before the court and sent to jail on Saturday,” additional DCP (crime branch) Rajesh Dandotiya said.
A total of five matches, including the Australia-South Africa clash on Saturday, have been held at the Holkar Stadium here and many of the teams have stayed at the same hotel. Following Simmons’ complaint, lodged at MIG police station late on Thursday evening, an FIR was registered under Sections 74 and 78 of the BNS for assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and stalking.
According to the FIR, the incident took place around 11am when the two players had stepped out of the hotel to visit a nearby café after informing Simmons.
“At approximately 11am, two players advised me they were leaving the hotel to go to a cafe. They were planning to walk to the cafe and I had no concerns with this as they had previously been to the cafe as have several members of the Australian team,” Simmons mentioned in the FIR.
“I received a live location notification from one of the players on my mobile phone at 11.08am. This message signifies an emergency distress signal to me from a player to advise they may need assistance. The players were about 500m from the hotel when she sent me a message saying a man on a motorcycle had approached them and tried to grab one of them before being confronted. He again came behind another player and touched her inappropriately before he drove off,” the FIR said.
The incident took place in Indore’s MIG area, primarily a marketplace, between their hotel and the café in Saket.
Simmons said that the player texted him, “Hey SoS, just sending you my live location... there’s a guy following us trying to grab us.”
The man was described as around 30 years old, wearing a white shirt and black cap, and riding a black motorcycle without a helmet.
The team’s liaison officers were informed and directed to go to the location to assist the players. A police patrol unit later reached the spot and escorted the cricketers back to their hotel. The complaint stated that the player later messaged again, informing Simmons that local police had arrived and helped them return safely.
“I received a further message stating that a nice man in a suit in a car stopped and asked if we were alright and stated that he rang police with the guy’s bike number,” Simmons mentioned in the FIR.
Ayush Jain, owner of the café, which is about 5km from the hotel the Australian team was staying in, told TOI, “Many of the Australian team members have been visiting our café in groups of threefour ever since they reached Indore on Oct 17. Nobody in the neighbourhood knew their identity, except us, since the café is thronged by many foreigners who check into nearby hotels.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) on Saturday said it is examining “whether the players had sought security cover for the movement outside the hotel.”
“The Australian team has a security officer appointed by Cricket Australia along with two security officers appointed by BCCI and the local police. It shall be examined whether the players had sought security cover or not," MPCA chief administrative officer Rohit Pandit told TOI .
“Extremely pained and hurt by the unfortunate incident that took place with the two members of the Australian women’s cricket team. No woman deserves to face such inappropriate behaviour. This incident is painful for not just the players but for the state and city too. Madhya Pradesh, especially Indore, has always been known for its hospitality, ensuring respect and safety for its guests. This inappropriate behaviour by one person has harmed this reputation and we are all extremely sorry for this,” MPCA president Mahanaryaman Scindia posted on X.
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