The city of Indore has been left in shock following a disturbing incident involving two members of the Australian women’s cricket team. Thirty-year-old Aqeel Khan was apprehended after allegedly sexually assaulting the players. While he initially attempted to mislead police by claiming he merely wanted a selfie, diligent investigation led to his confession: he admitted to deliberately following and molesting the cricketers after encountering them on his way home.
The incident occurred on a Thursday morning. Khan had just dropped off his father at Sathya Sai Square and was returning when he spotted the players walking from Robot Square towards Khajrana. He reportedly drove past them, then made a U-turn to approach them once more. It was during this second encounter that he allegedly molested them before fleeing on a motorcycle that conspicuously lacked a registration number.
MIG police utilized technical surveillance and intelligence to successfully track down and arrest Aqeel Khan. Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed the details, stating, “Initially, he maintained that he only wanted a selfie, but later admitted to following and molesting the players.” Following his appearance in court on Sunday, Khan was remanded to judicial custody for a period of 15 days.
This alarming event, taking place just two days before Australia’s crucial ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash against South Africa, has ignited significant apprehension regarding India’s image as a safe destination for international athletes. With India slated to host major global sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and other prominent tournaments in 2030, the incident raises critical questions about the security measures in place for visiting teams.
Cricket Australia promptly issued a statement confirming the details of the assault: “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.”