50-Year-Old Coach Charged Under POCSO for Harassing Teen Boxer

A private boxing academy in Bengaluru is under scrutiny after its senior coach was booked for alleged sexual misconduct toward a minor athlete. The 17-year-old victim’s mother approached Sampangiramnagar police on 22 May, detailing how the 50-year-old coach had been making unwanted physical contact for the past four years, with the frequency rising sharply in recent months. The FIR cites both POCSO provisions and the new criminal code, recording claims that the accused groped the girl inside his office, hurled abuses, and warned her of dire consequences should she speak out. Separate incidents at Kanteerava Stadium and during a competition in Chennai have also been documented. Police have begun recording statements from fellow trainees and reviewing CCTV footage while the accused remains untraceable.