New Delhi: The Haryana police are likely to conduct a polygraph test in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case against Indian shooting team coach Ankush Bhardwaj, whose student has accused him of sexual assault.
The move was disclosed to the Supreme Court Monday during Bhardwaj’s anticipatory bail plea hearing before a bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala. Additional advocate general Alok Sangwan said the police were considering the polygraph either on the accused, or the complainant, or both, depending on the nature of the evidence in the probe so far.
Though the court did not immediately grant Bhardwaj formal anticipatory bail, as an interim measure, it protected him from arrest until the next hearing on 15 May.
After looking into the facts of the case and certain WhatsApp chats between the accused and the complainant, the court asked Bhardwaj to cooperate with the police investigation.
The bench also asked Sangwan to look into the investigation papers and assist the court by providing a short note. It even directed the investigating officer to appear personally in court on the next date.
Bhardwaj has appealed against a 17 March Punjab and Haryana High Court order dismissing his plea for pre-arrest bail. He argued that the dismissal was done in a mechanical manner, without proper consideration of the facts, the evidence on record, and established legal principles on bail.
Bhardwaj has denied the allegations, claiming differences arose between him and the complainant’s family over outstanding fees that she owed him. He has drawn support from the WhatsApp chats he had with the complainant before and after the alleged incident.
The allegations
The complainant, a national-level shooter, alleged that Bhardwaj called her via WhatsApp as she was leaving Karni Singh Shooting Range, New Delhi after a shooting competition on 16 December, 2025.
She alleged that he asked her to reach the Taj Hotel in Surajkund for a performance analysis and to make notes. The allegations add that the coach took the girl to a room on the third floor, where he committed the alleged offence. He allegedly threatened to ruin her career, if she disclosed the incident to anyone.
Bhardwaj continued to message her on WhatsApp about shooting training, and when she began avoiding him, he complained to her parents about her not paying attention to his instructions.
After being repeatedly scolded by her mother, the girl disclosed the incident to her. This was almost a month after the incident, after which the parents lodged a formal complaint with the Haryana police.
A Commonwealth Youth Games gold medalist, Bhardwaj has represented India at many international shooting competitions in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other countries.
In his appeal before the Supreme Court, the coach claimed he had been falsely implicated in the present FIR to settle personal scores and waive off the pending coaching fees.
“The implication of the petitioner in a case of such grave nature has resulted in irreversible damage to his dignity, professional standing, and societal image, which cannot be undone even if the petitioner is ultimately exonerated,” Bhardwaj said in his petition.
According to the plea, the pendency of accusations operates as punishment in itself, “thereby necessitating a cautious and balanced approach”. It also cites an unexplained 21-day delay in filing the complaint as casting serious doubt on the credibility and veracity of the allegations.
He said his WhatsApp conversations with the girl after the alleged incident show everything was normal. According to him, she even kept sharing her pictures and liking all the petitioner’s posts. “The said facts and circumstances materially contradict the prosecution’s version,” the plea added.
On the issue of the complainant’s outstanding fees, the petition stated that it ran “into lakhs” and alleged that the FIR was filed to coerce Bhardwaj to forgo his legitimate claims. “The continued incarceration of the Petitioner, coupled with the stagnation of trial, amounts to a violation of his fundamental right to a fair and speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution.”
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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