3 weeks ago
Pondicherry coach Venkatraman faces FIR after cricketer alleges attack
Cricket is a very popular sport in India.
A coach named S Venkatraman works with young players for the Cricket Association of Pondicherry.
In December 2025, he said that three cricket players hurt him badly.
He had to go to the hospital with a hurt head and a broken shoulder.
The coach said the players were angry because they thought he stopped them from being chosen for an important tournament.
But one of the players told a very different story.
He said the coach shouted at them and attacked them with a cricket bat.
A judge looked at the player's complaint and told the police to open a case against the coach.
The police had earlier opened a case against the players on the coach's complaint.
Now the police will investigate to find out what really happened.
A Judicial Magistrate in Pondicherry directed police to register an FIR against CAP under-19 coach S Venkatraman.
The FIR follows a petition by cricketer Jayasundaram Karthikeyan alleging the coach attacked players, about eight months after the incident.
Venkatraman had earlier alleged that Karthikeyan, A Aravinddaraj and S Santhosh Kumaran attacked him at the CAP complex on December 8, 2025.
The coach claimed the players blamed him for their non-selection in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) squad.
The players' advocate said Venkatraman abused them and attacked them with a bat, while the coach was hospitalised with a head injury and shoulder fracture.
- Who
- S Venkatraman, under-19 coach and former joint-secretary of the Cricket Association of Pondicherry, and three Ranji Trophy-representing cricketers: Jayasundaram Karthikeyan (32), A Aravinddaraj (30) and S Santhosh Kumaran (28).
- What
- A Judicial Magistrate directed police to register an FIR against the coach after a cricketer alleged he attacked players; the coach had earlier accused the players of attacking him.
- Where
- CAP complex, Pondicherry.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred on December 8, 2025; the magistrate ordered the FIR about eight months later.
- Why
- The dispute is linked to the players' non-selection in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) squad, which the coach says they blamed on him; each side accuses the other of starting the attack.
Coach's Account
Cricketers' Account
Who attacked whom
Coach's Account
Venkatraman alleged the three players attacked him at the CAP complex, insisting he was the reason for their SMAT non-selection, and hospitalised him with a head injury and shoulder fracture.
Cricketers' Account
The cricketers, through advocate M Sabari Selvam, alleged Venkatraman abused them, picked up a bat and attacked them, causing injuries that required medical examination at a primary health centre.
Police handling of complaints
Coach's Account
Police acted on Venkatraman's complaint, filing an FIR against the three players over the incident.
Cricketers' Account
The players said they filed a complaint with the Sedarapet SHO and SP (North) on the same day, but police only acted on Venkatraman's later complaint, forcing Karthikeyan to approach the Judicial Magistrate.
Key facts
- Coach facing FIR
- S Venkatraman, CAP under-19 coach and former joint-secretary
- Players named by coach
- Jayasundaram Karthikeyan (32), A Aravinddaraj (30), S Santhosh Kumaran (28)
- Incident date
- December 8, 2025
- Incident location
- CAP complex, Pondicherry
- Coach's reported injuries
- Head injury and shoulder fracture
- Alleged motive
- Players' non-selection in the SMAT squad
- Players' counter-claim
- Coach abused them and attacked them with a bat; players treated at a primary health centre
- Legal development
- Sedarapet police registered FIR against coach after magistrate's order; complaints also lodged with BCCI and CAP
Quotes
M Sabari Selvam, Karthikeyan’s advocate
Advocate for player Jayasundaram Karthikeyan
“"We filed a complaint with the Sedarapet SHO and SP (North) on the same day of the attack. The police only acted on the complaint they later received from Venkatraman."”
wionews.com
“I was the reason for their non-selection in the SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) squad.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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