New Delhi: A shocking incident unfolded in Indore when Aqeel Khan was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two members of the Australian women’s cricket team. The players were simply walking from their hotel to a local café when the incident occurred.
Initially, Khan claimed he only wanted to snap a selfie with the athletes. However, police investigations revealed a much darker truth: he later confessed to deliberately following and molesting the players after spotting them on his journey home.
Further details indicate that the 30-year-old had dropped off his father at Sathya Sai Square earlier that morning. While returning, he noticed the cricketers walking from Robot Square towards Khajrana. He reportedly passed them, then made a U-turn to approach them again. It was at this point that he allegedly molested them before quickly fleeing the scene on his motorcycle, which conspicuously lacked a registration number.
MIG police managed to track down and arrest Khan through a combination of technical surveillance and intelligence. Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed, ‘Initially, he maintained that he only wanted a selfie, but later admitted to following and molesting the players.’ Khan was subsequently presented in court on Sunday and remanded to judicial custody for 15 days.
This disturbing event occurred just two days before Australia’s crucial top-of-the-table clash against South Africa in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The timing and nature of the incident have ignited serious concerns about India’s reputation as a safe destination for international sports, particularly with the 2030 Commonwealth Games on the horizon.
Cricket Australia issued a statement confirming the ordeal: ‘CA can confirm two members of the Australian Women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a cafe in Indore. The matter was reported by team security to police who are handling the matter.’