Shillong, June 27: Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) President James P.K. Sangma has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of disciplinary action against senior MCA officials following findings by the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) that established cases of sexual harassment involving members of the MCA Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team.
In a letter addressed to BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia, Sangma said the actions were taken in the interest of transparency, accountability and safeguarding women cricketers.
The matter stems from complaints submitted by members of the MCA Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team on December 2 and 3, 2025, alleging sexual harassment by then Head Coach Hemant Roy and Assistant Manager Sanjay Mondal during the team’s participation in matches at Agartala. The complaints were investigated by the MSCW under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
According to Sangma, the MSCW, in its order dated June 5, 2026, found both Roy and Mondal guilty of sexual harassment. The Commission concluded that Roy repeatedly made suggestive remarks about players’ bodies, used vulgar and abusive language during team meetings, harassed individual players and intimidated them. Mondal was found guilty of physically assaulting a woman cricketer in a hotel room in Agartala, a charge he admitted before the Commission while attributing his conduct to intoxication—a defence rejected by the Commission.
A second MSCW order dated June 26, 2026, held that several former MCA office-bearers failed to act on the complaints, amounting to grave negligence and non-compliance with the POSH Act. The Commission particularly faulted former MCA Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, stating that his conduct represented the “most serious individual default” due to evidence suggesting a conscious decision to delay and suppress action on the complaints.
The Commission directed that show-cause notices be issued, the matter be referred to the MCA Ombudsman and disciplinary action initiated against those responsible.
Sangma also alleged that Kharkamni had attempted to suppress the functioning of the Ombudsman’s office after the complaints were raised and claimed that the mandatory Ombudsman position remained vacant during his tenure despite BCCI and Lodha Committee guidelines, depriving members of an effective grievance redressal mechanism.
Acting under his emergency powers as MCA President, Sangma announced immediate disciplinary measures effective June 27.
Hemant Roy has been dismissed as Head Coach and permanently debarred from all positions and activities within the MCA. Sangma said the severity of the findings and alleged intimidation of complainants justified permanent removal rather than the minimum three-month suspension recommended by the Commission.
Assistant Manager Sanjay Mondal has also been dismissed and permanently barred from all MCA roles. Sangma stated that Mondal’s conduct constituted a serious violation of a woman cricketer’s dignity and bodily autonomy and could also attract criminal proceedings under applicable law.
Honorary Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni has been suspended pending disciplinary proceedings. A show-cause notice has been issued asking him to explain within three days why disciplinary action should not be initiated, while the matter has also been referred to the MCA Ombudsman for consideration of further action, including his removal from positions involving women players or team administration.
In his communication, Sangma described the case as reflecting broader systemic failures in protecting women athletes. He said complaints remained unattended for months despite being officially received by the MCA and alleged that attempts were later made to intimidate complainants into silence.
Calling for stronger institutional safeguards, Sangma urged the BCCI to record the MSCW findings and the MCA’s disciplinary actions in its official records, examine whether further national-level action is warranted against those found guilty, assist the MCA in implementing reforms mandated under the POSH Act, and strengthen protection mechanisms for women cricketers across all affiliated associations.
He said the MCA would constitute a compliant Internal Committee under the POSH Act, adopt a formal anti-sexual harassment policy and establish stronger safety protocols for women’s teams.
Copies of both MSCW orders, along with the suspension and dismissal orders, have been forwarded to the BCCI for its consideration. Sangma said the women cricketers of Meghalaya deserve the full protection of cricket’s governing institutions and expressed hope for the BCCI’s cooperation in ensuring similar incidents are not repeated elsewhere in Indian cricket.
