Indian High Commission official said the charges were dropped against the two men due to a lack of evidence
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Charges against two Indian sports officials arrested at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in separate cases of sexual assault and drunken driving have been dropped due to a lack of evidence, the Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday.
Indian wrestling referee Virender Singh Malik and the head of the Indian Olympic Association Rajeev Mehta were arrested by Scottish police on Saturday. Malik was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel, while Mehta was driving under the influence of alcohol.
However, the two cases - which were scheduled to be heard at the Glasgow Sheriff Court - did not come up for hearing on Monday. An Indian High Commission official said the charges were dropped against the two men due to a lack of evidence.
"There was no official explanation for the charges being dropped but intervention through diplomatic channels in India and Britain is not being ruled out," the Hindustan Times reported.
The case made headline news in India and sparked outrage and embarrassment on social media sites, with some calling it shameful and saying it detracted from the achievements made by the Indian contingent who came in at fifth place in the Commonwealth medals table.
(Editing by Alisa Tang: alisa.tang@thomsonreuters.com)
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