Reports: Indian team member arrested for rape in Zimbabwe?

An unnamed member of the Indian contingent in Zimbabwe was on Friday arrested by the local police for allegedly raping a local woman in the Meikles hotel in Harare. NewZimbabwe.com reported that the incident took place in the Meikles hotel which is the same hotel where the Indian team is staying.

It also quoted Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba saying, “There are allegations of rape on an Indian national by a Zimbabwe woman,”

“As police we are bound by the law when such serious matters arise and we investigate.”

She also added, “We have investigated the case and forwarded the case to the courts for determination and we wait for the outcome.”

The identity of the individual hasn’t been revealed Charamba also said, “It is tricky issue because it could turn into diplomatic feud between the two countries.”

“The victim has pointed an Indian national from the batch that came in last week, at this point I’m not in the position to reveal whether it’s a player or official as I’m bound by law. But, what I can confirm is that the accused appeared in court on Saturday,” she said.

The Indian Express quoted its sources in the hotel saying that the woman was drugged and physically abused. She claimed to have woken up with bloodied undergarments in the room and didn’t know how she got there. “She also said that she had no clue on how she reached the room,” said the source.

The Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe rushed to the hotel after learning about the incident and to pacify the situation and also tried to talk to the woman for an out of court settlement.

Though there is no confirmation from the police or the hotel staff or any of Zimbabwe authorities it doesn’t look likely that the arrested individual is an Indian player since all the 16 players were at the ground on Friday as the team played Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the series.

With little clarity, it might also be the case where an Indian national and not a member of the team has been arrested but it also appears that no other Indian apart from the team and its support staff has checked in the hotel.

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ANI quoted its source saying that no Indian cricketer is involved in the case and the individual is associated with one of the sponsors. The guy has also denied the charges and said that he is ready to undergo DNA test as well.

Report is false, no Indian cricketer involved: Sources on reports of an Indian cricketer being involved in an alleged case of rape in Harare

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2016

An Indian affiliated with one of the sponsors arrested,he denied the charge & said he is ready for a DNA test to prove his innocence:Sources

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2016

Our ambassador in Zimbabwe following matter closely:Sources on reports of an Indian cricketer being involved in alleged rapecase in Zimbabwe

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2016