Taking serious note of the death of a PG Diploma student in a swimming pool at Sports University of Haryana (SUOH), Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam inspected the site on Friday, where the incident occurred on May 22.
Gautam gathered details from university officials and directed the Police Commissioner to form a special investigation team (SIT) to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry. The team will submit its report within 30 days.
Nishant Gautam, 30, a Delhi resident pursuing a PG Diploma in Cricket at SUOH, drowned in the university swimming pool under mysterious circumstances on the night of May 22. The university administration had already constituted a three-member committee to inquire into the matter.
His family, who reached Sonepat after the incident, suspects foul play and has demanded a fair investigation.
During his visit, the minister inspected the swimming pool premises and sought a detailed report from the university on the safety and security measures in place at the time. He held separate meetings with the student’s family, district administration officials, police officers, health department representatives, and the university administration. He also interacted with students, coaches, staff, and the university’s inquiry committee.
“The untimely death of any student is extremely tragic and concerning. The state government views this incident very seriously, and no negligence or irresponsibility will be tolerated,” Gautam said.
He confirmed that instructions had been issued to the Police Commissioner to constitute a special team for a thorough investigation. “The team will submit its report within 30 days based on facts and evidence. If any negligence or violation is found at any level, strict action will be taken against those responsible as per law,” he warned.
Gautam directed the university administration to conduct a comprehensive review of safety standards to prevent such incidents. He stressed that strict compliance with safety protocols must be ensured at the swimming pool and all other sports facilities, with student safety as the top priority.
Vice-Chancellor Ashok Kumar, SDM Subhash Chandra, ACP Rishikant, and CMO Dr Anuradha Jain, along with other senior officials, were present during the visit.
