National shooting coach Ankush Bharadwaj has found himself at the centre of the controversy, as Haryana Police has filed a case against him for alleged sexual harassment of a 17-year-old national-level shooter. The event, which was thought to have occurred in Faridabad, has led to his suspension by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and a subsequent investigation by the police.
Who is Ankush Bharadwaj?
Bharadwaj was born in Ambala. Both his mother and father were teachers, and his family background was quite humble. His entry into shooting was through a National Cadet Corps camp in 2005. He shifted his training to Dehradun soon after, where his training coach was Subhash Rana, brother of former Olympian Jaspal Rana.
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Rise and setback before CWG 2010
Bharadwajās big break occurred when he won the 50m pistol event at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune. His performances placed him in contention for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. However, his career suffered a major setback when he failed a dope test after testing positive for beta blockers. He claimed that he must have ingested the drug in Suhl, Germany, when he was taking some medication for a headache, but it spoiled his chances when he was on the right track.
Transition to coaching and business ventures
Mohali-based Bharadwaj changed the course of his career by turning to coaching in 2016. He opened Shooters Cafe, which later saw the inception of the Salvo Shooters Arena. In 2024, he launched a fitness club named the āArchon Fitness Clubā along with his wife, Anjum Moudgil, an Olympic shooter. The fitness club comprises a shooting range, rehabilitation centre, and other fitness facilities.
He briefly went back to competitive shooting and won the gold medal at the International Shooting Cup in Hannover, Germany, in 2017.
Allegations and ongoing investigation
According to the FIR, the alleged incident took place on December 16, 2025, after a national-level competition at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in South Delhi. The complaint also mentions that Bharadwaj asked the minor athlete to meet him at a hotel in Faridabad to discuss her performance and allegedly forced her into his room, where the assault took place. The survivor has also alleged threats to her career as well as to her family.
Following a complaint lodged by the victimās mother, police filed a case under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police investigating the matter are looking into CCTV footage, call records, and statements of eyewitnesses, while NRAI confirmed his suspension pending inquiry.
