Indian Hockey Player Varun Kumar accused of rape, booked under POCSO act

Varun Kumar, an Indian hockey player currently training with the national squad in Bhubaneswar, has been booked under the POCSO act by the Bengaluru Police. This follows allegations made by a woman accusing him of sexually abusing her multiple times when she was a minor.

Allegations and Police action

The 22-year-old woman filed a complaint on Monday, stating that she came into contact with Varun in 2018 through Instagram. She alleges that Varun raped her on multiple occasions, promising marriage when she was 17 years old. The Bengaluru Police have registered a case against Varun under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

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Details of allegations and response

The woman claims that she met Varun when he was training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Bengaluru. Varun, who was awarded the Arjuna award in 2021 and recently promoted as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Punjab Police, has been accused of taking advantage of their relationship and engaging in physical relations with her despite being aware of her minor status. The woman alleges that Varun distanced himself from her after her father's death last year and threatened to upload her photos on social media when she persisted on the topic of marriage.

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Hockey India has denied rumors suggesting that Varun is on the run, confirming that he is with the national squad in Bhubaneswar. The case is currently under investigation, with serious charges of sexual abuse and cheating leveled against Varun.