More than two years after her live-in partner alleged rape and assault, Asian Gold medallist Pinki Pramanik was exonerated of all charges by the Calcutta High Court here on Friday.
Justice Subrata Talukdar quashed all charges brought against the athlete by the police.
“I am happy that truth has prevailed but it has been a long battle for me,” the athlete told
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Arrested in June 2012 after Pinki’s partner Anamika Acharya alleged that she was raped, the athlete was put behind bars for 25 days before being granted bail.
While in custody, the athlete had alleged that a forced gender test was conduced on her at the behest of the police.
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Questions were raised when the athlete was referred as male in police records and was seen escorted by a male police officer. An MMS of the gender-test was leaked resulting in further embarrassment for the athlete.
“Justice for me will not be complete until there is some action against the police and the authorities of the private nursing home who forced a gender test on me,” Pinki said.
A charge-sheet against the athlete was filed at a district court at Barasat in North 24 Parganas in November 2012 alleging that Pinki was guilty of rape and criminal intimidation. A medical report submitted by the police along with the charge-sheet said that the athlete was male.
Pinki later moved the High Court challenging the charge-sheet.
Among the laurels won by the athlete the most significant was the gold medal in 4x400 metres relay in Asian Games at Doha. Pinki had also won silver medal at Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.