National-level para archery coach Kuldeep Vedwan has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment by a Fast Track Special Court in Sonipat, Haryana, in a sexual harassment case involving a minor female archer.
The court convicted Vedwan under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and also imposed a fine of ₹15,000. Following the verdict, he was taken into custody immediately.
Court convicts Kuldeep Vedwan under POCSO Act
Additional Sessions Judge Narendra Singh announced the punishment after Vedwan was found guilty on May 15. The case dates back to August 2023 when a complaint was registered at a police station in Sonipat district.
According to the prosecution, Vedwan allegedly attempted to sexually harass a junior national-level archer during youth championship trials held in Sonipat in April 2023.
The athlete had travelled to the Sports Authority of India centre in Sonipat for the selection trials. At that time, she was training at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Katra Stadium, where Vedwan’s foundation was associated with coaching activities.
In her complaint, the player alleged that Vedwan entered her hotel room around 4 AM on April 7 and made inappropriate physical advances.
She further claimed that she resisted for nearly 15 to 20 minutes before escaping to another room occupied by female players.
Victim alleged repeated pressure from coach
The minor athlete also alleged that Kuldeep Vedwan later apologised and requested her not to disclose the incident, saying it would ruin his career.
Additionally, she claimed that the coach repeatedly pressured her during subsequent hotel stays and allegedly promised to make her a "big player" if she cooperated.
Special Public Prosecutor Vijender Singh Khatri stated that the court convicted Vedwan after examining evidence and hearing arguments from both sides.
The court sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 10 of the POCSO Act, while also awarding three years of imprisonment under Section 12. Both sentences will run concurrently.
Following the trials in April 2023, the athlete was selected for the Asia Cup in Singapore before eventually informing her family about the alleged incident.
The matter was later reported to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, after which an internal inquiry committee reportedly advised the family to file a police complaint in Sonipat.
Police subsequently registered a case under IPC Section 354A along with Sections 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act.