Three Puducherry cricketers suspended on assault charges

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Three Puducherry cricketers suspended on assault charges

The CAP said in a statement that a “formal chargesheet has been filed” against the players

ESPNcricinfo staff

Published: Apr 22, 2026, 2:24 PM
Puducherry host Meghalaya at the CAP Siechem Ground

The three cricketers have been “prohibited and banned from entering the CAP Siechem campus”  •  Saurabh Somani/ESPNcricinfo

Three Puducherry cricketers – J Karthiyeyan, A Aravindaraj and S Santhosh Kumaran – have been suspended from “all cricketing activities” conducted by the Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP), following charges of assault on an Under-19 coach.

In a statement, CAP said the three players were involved “in a grave criminal case, including charges of attempt to murder and assault on Mr. Venkataraman, CAP’s U19 coach”.

The CAP said the incident occurred on December 8, 2025, and that a “formal chargesheet has been filed” in the Sedurapet Police Station, with the matter “currently pending before the Hon’ble Judicial Magistrate – IV Court, Puducherry”.

In view of the incident, the CAP ordered the following sanctions against the players:

  • They are suspended with immediate effect from all cricketing activities conducted under the aegis of CAP.
  • They are strictly prohibited and banned from entering the CAP Siechem campus, Tutipet, Pondicherry and any CAP-controlled premises until further orders.
  • They shall not be permitted to represent CAP in any capacity in domestic or external cricket tournaments/activities.
  • This suspension shall remain in force until the Hon’ble Court adjudicates the matter and clears the accused of all charges.
  • Puducherry were last in action in domestic cricket during Ranji Trophy 2025-26, where they finished sixth in Group D after winning one of their seven matches.