Dronacharya-Winning Gymnastics Coach Booked Under POCSO in Vile Parle East

A Dronacharya Award-winning gymnastics coach has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by the Vile Parle police for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old female gymnastics player at a gymnasium in Vile Parle East.

According to reports, the victim is an active gymnastics player who had been training at a renowned gymnastics club located in Vile Parle East. However, she had recently halted her practice sessions and stopped visiting the facility due to her academic commitments.

The sequence of events began on August 21 when the teenager received a text message from the coach stating "Hi." The girl replied with "Hi" and immediately notified her mother about the text exchange. Her mother advised her to enquire why the coach had messaged her. The coach then sent a follow-up message asking the minor to meet him at the gymnasium.

The girl arrived at the training facility at around 11 am and discovered that the coach was alone on the premises. The coach instructed her to keep her shoes inside, after which he locked the door and sexually assaulted her. Following the alleged assault, the coach warned the girl not to reveal the incident to anyone.

The following day, the teenager confided in one of her friends about the alleged assault. As she began crying, her friends intervened and brought her to their PT teacher to report what had taken place. Accompanied by her parents and the PT teacher, the victim subsequently approached the police station to lodge a formal complaint against the coach.

Following the complaint, the Vile Parle police registered a case against the coach under the provisions of the POCSO Act. Authorities stated that further details regarding the case remain awaited.