IPL shame: RCB player Pomersbach arrested for molestation

Zeenews Sports Bureau

New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore player Luke Pomersbach has been arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a foreign woman during a post match IPL party at ITC Mourya here on Thursday night. Who is Luke Pomersbach? I IPL Controversies An FIR was lodged against the Royal Challengers Bangalore's Australian recruit at the Chanakyapuri police station late last night. The player molested the American woman of Indian origin and then beat up her fiancé who tried to prevent him from molesting the woman during an IPL post match party. The victim alleged that Pomersbach came to his room and molested her in front of her fiancé. The 27-year-old player has been booked under the sections 354 (outraging modesty of woman), 323 (hurt), 454 (lurking house trespass) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code. The RCB team yesterday won their important IPL encounter with Delhi Daredevils in the capital and then went to attend the post match party. It’s not the first time Western Australian player Pomersbach violated law as he was fined USD 3500 and banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to six charges arising out of a night of drunken madness in 2009. Meanwhile, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla washed his hands off by saying that the player went to the party on his own as IPL organizes no official party. “Let me clear you that IPL hosts no party. The player must have gone to his individual capacity. We have nothing to do with it. Let law takes its own course.” “It is an individual behavior of the individual player,” he said. KC Dwivedi, Additional Commissioner of Delhi Police confirmed that Luke Pomersbach has been arrested for molestation and has been taken for medical examination. He also informed that the player would be produced before the court once his medical examination was over. Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya, however, regrets the incident saying that Pomersbach won’t be allowed to play for his team unless he clears his name. “Law should take its course. He won’t be allowed to take to the field till the investigations are over,” he said. Anil Kumble, mentor of the RCB, said that he was extremely disappointed over the whole issue. “The whole issue is very disappointing,” said the former Indian captain. “Luke’s behavior during his stay with the team was outstanding. However, we will co-operate with those who are investigating the incident,” he added. He also promised an internal investigation on the issue. The condition of 32-year-old Sohail Pirzada, the fiancé of the woman, is stated to be normal. Dr DK Baluja, executive directive of the Primus Hospital, where Pirzada was taken for treatment, said that he came to the hospital at around 7.30 am this morning. They examined him but did not find any critical external injury, he added. Cricket Australia (CA), meanwhile, said that they would offer legal assistance to the player. CA spokesperson Peter Young said, “We will provide consular assistance to Pomersbach.”