Shillong, June 28: In the latest development in the row over the alleged sexual harassment of players from Meghalaya’s Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team, Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) president James Sangma has dismissed head coach Hemant Roy and assistant manager Sanjay Mondal, and suspended honorary secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, based on the findings of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) into the sexual harassment complaints.
The complaints were submitted by six members of the MCA Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team to the MCA in December 2025, alleging sexual harassment by Roy and Mondal during the team’s participation in matches in Agartala. However, no action was taken. The matter was subsequently brought before the MSCW earlier this year. The Commission registered the case as No. MSCW/SH/26/2 and conducted proceedings under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Following its inquiry, the MSCW issued two orders on the matter, the first on June 5, 2026, and the second on June 26, 2026.
According to the MCA president, who also shared copies of the MSCW’s orders, the Commission’s first order found Roy and Mondal guilty of sexual harassment under the POSH Act. The order stated that Roy made repeated suggestive remarks about the players’ bodies and physical appearance, used vulgar and abusive language during team meetings, targeted individual players for harassment and humiliation, and intimidated members of the squad. It further noted that Roy’s brother, an MCA selector, allegedly threatened the complainants with being dropped from the team for filing complaints against the head coach. However, the Commission did not recommend or initiate any action against the selector in its order.
The findings against Mondal are more serious, with the Commission finding that he physically assaulted a woman cricketer in his hotel room in Agartala. According to the order, Mondal admitted before the Commission that the assault had taken place but attributed his actions to intoxication, a defence that the Commission rejected.
A second MSCW order, dated June 26, 2026, examined the handling of the complaints by MCA office-bearers and found what it described as grave negligence and non-compliance with the POSH Act.
The Commission named then secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, former president Nababrata Bhattacharjee, former treasurer Dhrubajyoti Thakuria and cricket operations manager Shining Star Lyngdoh. The order stated that Kharkamni’s conduct as secretary “stands out as the most serious individual default” on account of “the direct contradiction in his own account and the corroborated evidence of a conscious decision to defer action.” It directed the MCA president to issue show-cause notices to the four, refer the matter to the MCA Ombudsman, and initiate disciplinary proceedings.
On Saturday evening, Sangma announced that Roy had been dismissed as head coach with immediate effect and permanently debarred from all roles and activities within the association. Mondal had also been dismissed as assistant manager and permanently debarred from all MCA activities. Kharkamni has been suspended as honorary secretary pending disciplinary proceedings. A show-cause notice has been issued directing him to explain within three days why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him, while the matter has also been referred to the MCA Ombudsman for further proceedings.
Speaking about Kharkamni’s suspension, Sangma said, “If I don’t suspend him, then it leaves him in a position to manipulate things and to also misuse and abuse the position.” He also clarified that he only has the authority to suspend Kharkamni and not dismiss him.
Replying to a query, Sangma also cautioned Kharkamni against challenging the MSCW’s order, saying such a move could amount to contempt of the Commission’s proceedings.
“A quasi-judicial statutory body like the State Women’s Commission (MSCW) has given their report. I don’t know what legal recourse Mr. Kharkamni is talking about. Is he challenging the validity of the State Women’s Commission? That would amount to contempt of the Commission. I would not advise him to do that because contempt can lead to various forms of litigation against him. But if he wants to proceed despite that, then that is his choice,” he said.
The MCA president also said he would forward the suspension and dismissal orders, along with the MSCW’s findings, to the BCCI. He added that the documents would also be sent to the North East Cricket Development Council (NECDC) to send a strong message that Meghalaya will not tolerate incidents of sexual harassment in cricket.
