Australian right-handed batsman Luke Pomersbach, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL and has had a history of brawls and brush with police in his country and was arrested on Friday in a molestation case today appeared before a court in Delhi.
“I am innocent and it’s a conpiracy,” the Australian cricketer said in the court.
On Friday, Pomersbach was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar, under whose jurisdiction the hotel, where the incident happened, falls. But, the case was transferred to a Mahila Court (court for women) on the ground that it was a molestation case.
The court, while granting bail, directed the Delhi Police to secure the CCTV footage from the hotel along with the medical report of Peerzada.
While narrating the incident to the court, the woman said, “He (Peerzada) just tried to save me and that’s how he got hurt.” She also told the court that she has been threatened to withdraw her complaint. The police said that the victim has informed them about the threat and they are verifying the details.
Drama ensued during the proceedings before the court, as Pomersbach fainted and had to be taken out of the packed courtroom. The police gave him water after which he recovered.
Pomersbach is alleged to have molested the woman, Zohail Hameed, at the ITC Maurya hotel in New Delhi. Her fiance Sahil Peerzada, who is in his 30s, was beaten up by the player when he tried to stop him and was admitted to Primus Hospital in the diplomatic area of the national capital, police said.
Pomersbach was arrested on a charge of molesting an American woman and attacking her fiance but his team owners attempted a cover-up seeking to question the character of the victim.
Pomersback was later released on interim bail till Saturday on a personal bond of Rs.20,000. He had fainted in court as the hearing began but was quickly revived.
The Australian High Commission has also sent a diplomat to meet the cricketer and was also in touch with Delhi Police to provide him legal assistance.
Later on Friday, Pomersbach has rubbished the allegations of molestation against him by an Indian American woman and said he was utterly “shocked and disappointed” by the developments.
“(I am) shocked to be in this position. I can’t believe this is happening and I’m really disappointed when people make things up,” Pomersbach was quoted as saying by The Weekend Australian newspaper.
A case has been registered against him under various sections of IPC including section 354 of IPC (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).
The woman said the player invited himself for some drinks with the couple and some common friends from Mumbai in their room. She left the men alone and went to her bedroom for catching some sleep but Pomersbach followed her and misbehaved with her, she alleged.
When her fiancee intervened, Luke allegedly beat him up, she said. The woman’s fiancee has been admitted to a hospital.
Later in the day, Pomersbach was produced in a Delhi courtroom, where he fainted but was released on bail for 24 hours.
The Indian Premier League organisers have already distanced themselves from the controversy, while RCB has banned Pomersbach till he is proven innocent.
Hotel’s guard a crucial witness
For the Delhi Police, a guard at the ITC Maurya hotel is a crucial witness as he had accompanied Luke Pomersbach, a Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player, to the room of a US national, who has accused him of molesting her.
“The guard was posted at the 16th floor of the hotel and had met Pomersbach in the elevator. When Pomersbach told him that he had to go to the 16th floor, the guard — Vikas Yadav —accompanied him. He saw Pomersbach knocking at the door of the woman and hurling abuses at her,” a senior police officer said.
The police have recorded Yadav’s statement and have also asked the hotel authority to provide the CCTV footage of the lobby. The police said that Pomersbach had molested the woman and beaten up her fiancé Sahil Peerzada inside their room. He returned half-an-hour later and it was then that Yadav noticed him.
(With inputs from HT, PTI)