Following the shocking incident where two Australian women cricketers were stalked and molested in Indore, here are the latest updates on the police investigation and the critical security review now underway.
🔍 Investigation Update: Accused Arrested and Charged
Indore Police confirmed the swift arrest of the accused, providing further details on the investigation:
- Accused Identified: The arrested individual has been identified as Akil Khan (also cited as Aqeel), a 28-year-old resident of Azad Nagar, who is reportedly employed as a local delivery executive.
- Prior Record: Police officials stated that Khan has prior criminal cases registered against him, and a detailed investigation into his criminal history is ongoing.
- Charges Filed: The FIR was registered at the MIG police station under the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections:
- Section 74: Use of criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty.
- Section 78: Stalking.
- Evidence: The rapid arrest was significantly aided by a quick-thinking passerby who noted the black motorcycle’s registration number. CCTV footage from the area was also used to confirm the identity and sequence of events.
🛡️ Security Lapse and Review
The incident has immediately triggered an internal review by cricket authorities, with some officials pointing to a potential security lapse.
- Distance from Hotel: The incident occurred approximately 500 meters from the team’s hotel (Radisson Blu), on a route the players were using to visit a nearby cafe.
- MPCA Review: The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) Chief Administrative Officer, Rohit Pandit, stated that the organization is reviewing the circumstances, particularly how the players left the hotel premises “without informing or seeking permission from the security team,” despite the presence of dedicated security officers from Cricket Australia, the BCCI, and local police.
- Police Concession: Some police insiders have reportedly conceded an “Intelligence lapse”, noting that there were insufficient routine patrols or undercover personnel assigned to the brief pathway outside the high-security hotel.
🗣️ ICC and Cricket Authority Statements
While Cricket Australia (CA), the BCCI, and state ministers have all issued strong statements, an immediate, official, stand-alone statement from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the security breach is currently unavailable in recent reports.
- BCCI’s Stance: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia expressed “discontent” over the “unfortunate” incident, appreciating the state police’s prompt action while acknowledging the disrepute it brings to the country.
The Australian team remains stationed in Indore and is scheduled to play a crucial match today (Saturday) against South Africa. Authorities have confirmed that security measures around the hotel have been strengthened.
🗣️ Official Reactions to Indore Incident
Here is the summary of the official statements and reactions from the governing bodies and team management regarding the molestation incident involving two Australian women cricketers in Indore.
🇦🇺 Cricket Australia (CA) Statement
Cricket Australia has officially confirmed the incident and the steps taken by the team’s security.
| Key Point | Detail |
| Confirmation | CA confirmed that “two members of the Australian Women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a cafe in Indore.” |
| Reporting | The matter was immediately reported by team security to police, who are currently handling the investigation. |
| Players’ Action | The players sent an SOS alert and their live location to the team’s Security Officer, Danny Simmons, who quickly coordinated a vehicle escort and filed the official complaint. |
🇮🇳 BCCI and Local Authority Reaction
The host board (BCCI) and local officials expressed strong condemnation and concern over the breach of safety.
- BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: Expressed “discontent” over the “very unfortunate incident” which “brings disrepute.” He praised the State Police for their “prompt action to nab the culprit” and stressed that the “law take its course to punish the culprit.”
- Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA): Released a statement expressing deep distress, apologizing to the Australian team, and acknowledging the players’ “resilience” for continuing to compete. They also noted that they are reviewing how the players left the premises without informing or requesting security for the personal outing, which happened outside the official team movements.
- State Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya: Called the incident “a stain on India’s image” and demanded the strictest action to set an example.
🌐 International Cricket Council (ICC) Status
As of the current reports, the ICC has not released a specific, stand-alone public statement regarding the security breach or molestation incident.
The focus remains on the ongoing police investigation, the arrest of the accused (Akil Khan), and the internal security review being conducted by the local organizers (BCCI/MPCA) and Cricket Australia.
