Overview
- Additional District and Sessions Judge Abhishek Phutela in the Faridabad special POCSO court rejected Bhardwaj’s anticipatory bail plea on Friday.
- Police say Bhardwaj is accused of aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a 17-year-old trainee and is currently untraceable.
- An FIR was filed on January 6 at the NIT Faridabad women’s police station under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 351(2) of the BNS for criminal intimidation.
- The complaint alleges the December 16 assault followed a national event, with the coach calling the shooter to a Surajkund hotel lobby, coercing her to his room, and threatening to ruin her career.
- Investigators have raided his Mohali academy and homes in Ambala and Chandigarh, and the National Rifle Association of India suspended him earlier this month.