From prison fights to armed robberies — the shocking criminal history of the man accused of molesting two Australian women’s cricket players exposes major security lapses ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup in Indore.

Indore, Madhya Pradesh |Monday, October 28, 2025

In a serious breach of international player safety, two Australian women’s cricket players were allegedly molested in Indore by a man later identified as a repeat criminal with a long and violent history. The accused, Aqeel Khan, aged 30, was arrested within hours of the incident, which has since triggered a nationwide debate over player protection, security oversight, and India’s image as a safe sporting destination.

According to Indore Police, the incident occurred on Thursday morning near Vijay Nagar — one of the city’s most upscale areas — when the two players were walking from their hotel to a café. The accused, riding a motorcycle, allegedly followed them, made inappropriate physical contact, and attempted to flee. The players immediately informed their team’s security personnel, who alerted local authorities.

Police teams, using CCTV footage and witness statements, traced the motorcycle and arrested Khan within six hours. During the chase, he lost control of his vehicle, sustaining leg and arm fractures before being taken into custody.

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A Long Trail of Crime

Further investigation revealed a disturbing profile: Khan is a habitual offender with at least ten previous criminal cases, including robbery, assault, drug possession, attempted murder, and participation in prison fights.

Police records show that Khan spent several years in jail and was released recently. Despite this, there were no active monitoring mechanisms to track his post-release behavior.

“His pattern shows a dangerous disregard for the law. He’s been arrested for multiple violent crimes but always manages to re-enter society,” said a senior Indore police officer under condition of anonymity.

Officials confirmed that Khan was also involved in a 2019 prison altercation that resulted in serious injuries to another inmate, and in a 2022 armed robbery attempt that went unprosecuted due to lack of evidence.

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The Indore Incident: How It Unfolded

Sources close to the investigation stated that the accused began following the cricketers after spotting them outside their hotel. CCTV visuals show him circling the area several times before approaching them directly. When confronted, he allegedly attempted to grab one of the players and touch another inappropriately before escaping.

An SOS alert sent by the players to their security officer led to immediate police action. The MIG Police Station in Indore registered an FIR under Sections 77 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering stalking and assault with intent to outrage modesty.

By evening, the Australian High Commission and Cricket Australia were briefed about the arrest.

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A Blow to India’s Sporting Reputation

The assault has cast a shadow over the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, with Indore hosting several matches. International sports analysts have voiced concern that such incidents could discourage teams from free movement and raise questions about India’s readiness to host global tournaments.

A senior Australian official told The Age: “We appreciate the swift police action, but this event underscores why teams insist on strict off-field security. It shouldn’t take an incident like this to trigger accountability.”

Cricket Australia released a statement expressing “shock and concern” while praising the prompt response by local authorities. The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) also issued an apology and promised a full internal review of off-venue security arrangements.

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Security Lapses Under Scrutiny

Sources within the MPCA revealed that while the team had been provided with security escorts for match travel, off-day movements such as walks or café visits were considered “low-risk”. That policy is now being questioned.

Experts argue that security complacency often builds around women’s teams, assuming less fan aggression compared to men’s matches. However, the Indore case has proven that assumption dangerously wrong.

“This is a failure of layered security,” said retired DGP Manoj Tiwari, an expert in sports event policing. “The team’s local intelligence unit, hotel liaison staff, and event security should all have visibility into player movement. In this case, that entire coordination broke down.”

The Indore Police Commissioner, Harinarayan Chari Mishra, announced new measures, including:

• Deployment of plainclothes officers around hotels housing international athletes.
• Expanded CCTV coverage in known tourist and café zones.
• Mandatory local police escort for all foreign players when moving beyond designated perimeters.

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Public and Political Reaction

The case has sparked outrage both locally and internationally. Social media flooded with calls for stronger punishment and accountability. Women’s rights groups in Indore organized a protest outside the District Collectorate, demanding reforms in how repeat offenders are monitored.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohammad Suleman Khan condemned the assault, saying:

“This incident tarnishes the reputation of Indore and India. We will ensure the strictest punishment possible and close gaps that allowed a known criminal to roam free.”

The Australian team has since resumed practice under heightened security. No players have withdrawn, but sources confirm that they are “deeply shaken.”

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The Repeat Offender Problem

A major thread in this story is India’s criminal justice loophole — the difficulty in tracking habitual offenders after release. Legal experts note that despite a digital database of criminal records, state-level integration remains weak, allowing repeat offenders to slip through.

Advocate Rachna Singh, a criminal law specialist, explained:

“We’ve digitized arrest records but not surveillance follow-ups. Once released, unless under parole supervision, the system loses sight of them. Aqeel Khan exploited exactly that gap.”

Her comments echo a nationwide concern that India’s rehabilitation mechanisms remain grossly inadequate, leaving habitual offenders unsupervised and prone to relapse.

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Moving Forward

The MPCA and Indore administration have jointly pledged a full security overhaul before the next international fixture. Meanwhile, Aqeel Khan remains in judicial custody and faces charges that could lead to up to 7 years in prison under the BNS.

Cricket Australia, in coordination with the BCCI, is drafting a new inter-country security protocol requiring mandatory local police liaison at all venues and during player movements.

This case serves as a harsh reminder: international hospitality and reputation hinge on more than event management — they depend on ensuring absolute safety for those who represent their nations abroad.

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