New Delhi: Several athletes were fleeced of money through false Khelo India advertisement. The Sports Authority of India has lodged FIR with Uttar Pradesh Police in this regard.
Offering details in this regard today, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports informed that the SAI received several complaints from grassroot -level athletes from across the country that an advertisement had been posted on social media platforms inviting applications to participate in the Khelo India Games scheduled in Panchkula in Haryana in 2021. In the advertisement athletes were asked to deposit Rs 6000 for enrolling in the Khelo India camp and were given assurance that they could participate in Khelo India Games after trials. A phone number was mentioned in advertisement.
Acting as an aspirant SAI managed to get bank account details of the person, who is a resident of Agra.
The advertisement also used the logos of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India and Khelo India, which misled several athletes to believe it to be a government advertisement.
In the FIR lodged with the Uttar Pradesh police, the SAI has asked for an immediate investigation of the issue. Khelo India is a government scheme and athletes do not need to pay any money to participate in it. No trails are conducted by SAI/Khelo India. Athletes qualify for participating in Khelo India Games based on their performances in School Games/University Games organized by SGFI/AIU.
– globalbihari bureau
