Senior Indian sports officials arrested in Glasgow

New Delhi, Aug 3: India were left red-faced after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta and senior international wrestling referee Virender Malik were arrested in Glasgow on separate charges late Saturday night.

Mehta was arrested on charges of alleged drunken driving and Malik for alleged sexual assault.

Sources here told IANS that both Mehta and Malik were not part of the Indian contingent but went to Glasgow in their respective official capacities. Mehta was an invitee of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and presented medals to winners. Malik had officiated in the wrestling competitions in the Commonwealth Games.

The two will be presented in court Monday.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman confirmed the arrests of the two Indian officials but refused to divulge any details.

"On August 2, a 49-year-old man was arrested following reports of alleged drunken driving in City Centre of Glasgow. On August 2, a 45-year-old man was arrested following reports of an alleged assault in the west of Glasgow," said the spokeswoman.

Asian Lite, a London newspaper, reported that Mehta was allegedly driving without a licence at Glasgow city centre and was above the legal alcohol limit and Malik was allegedly involved in sexual assault in a hotel in the west of Glasgow.

The Indian High Commission in London, in a statement, said they are closely monitoring the case.

"We have learnt about the detention of two members of the Commonwealth games contingent (sic) by the local (Glasgow) police. Our consulate in Edinburgh has deputed an official to Glasgow to keep in close touch with the police authorities to ascertain full factual details of the case. We are also close in touch with the team," the High Commission said in a statement.

IOA President N. Ramachandran said it was unfair to jump to any early conclusion.

"I have seen the media reports about the Glasgow incidents. At the moment, the details are rather sketchy and it is unfair to jump to conclusions at the moment. Let us see what are the details when the accused are produced in court Monday," Ramachandran was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN here Sunday.