KOLKATA: Hockey India’s Ethics Committee has started a fact-finding inquiry into the complaints filed against former Indian hockey captain and Executive Board member Asunta Lakra.The development comes a day after it emerged that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a neutral, fair and transparent committee to look into the allegations made by Lakra against Hockey India secretary general and Hockey Jharkhand president Bhola Nath Singh and former coach Sudhir Golla. The ministry has also sought an explanation from Hockey India.In a communication issued by Justice (Retd.) Raghvendra Kumar, chairman of Hockey India’s Ethics Committee, Lakra was informed that Jharkhand player Albela Rani Toppo had filed two complaints against him, addressed to the Hockey India secretary general on April 5 and July 9.“Vide Hockey India’s letter dated 10.07.2026, I have been requested to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the allegations leveled against you. A copy of both the complaints have been forwarded to you with a direction to file the reply/reply thereto within 30th July, 2026,” said the letter, with a copy to TOI.It added that if no response is received within the specified time, “it will be considered that you have nothing to say in your defense and the fact-finding inquiry shall continue according to the established procedure and law.”Responding to the development, Lakra said, “I will comply with the directions of the Sports Ministry and put my version before the committee set up to look into the matter.Earlier, the ministry had written to Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey directing the federation to place Lakra’s complaint before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and sought a report on the outcome.Following the communication, Tirkey wrote to the ministry requesting an independent probe into Lakra’s allegations and informed the Hockey India Executive Board members of the same.Hockey India vice-president Asima Ali extended her support to Lakra, saying she would closely monitor the federation’s handling of the matter.“Proper and fair implementation of Sports Code of India in Hockey I will look after… and in case of any unfair or unjust practice, I will include it in my ongoing petition before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court without delay. I also provide my full support to Ms. Asunta Lakra,” Ali wrote in a post on social media.Lakra alleged that Singh threatened him after he raised concerns about the alleged protection given to Golla by Hockey Jharkhand. He also accused Golla of intimidating female players after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against him. Both Singh and Golla denied the allegations.