Two footballers, accused of rape charges, are facing contrasting reactions from their respective clubs.
While United SC have terminated the contract of Baldeep Singh, East Bengal have stood by Jagpreet Singh after both were accused of raping a 14-year-old girl. The duo was accused along with another player Jaspal Parmar, a former India international and ex-East Bengal defender.
Jagpreet and his cook Ravi Singh have been arrested and remanded to 14-days custody while Jaspal and Baldeep are absconding.
"We have terminated Baldeep's contract with immediate effect. Till he's proven innocent, his contract remains null and void," United SC director Nawab Bhattacharya said.
On the other hand, East Bengal contested the rape allegations saying Jagpeet was present with the team during their I-League match against Pune FC on Monday afternoon when the incident is alleged to have taken place.
"Jagpreet was with the team at the stadium. How can he be involved in the incident? These are false allegations. We will not take any action till he's proven guilty. Even the medical report has not yet come," EB general secretary Kalyan Majumdar said.
A former India midfielder, Jagpreet had joined East Bengal this season but was yet to play a match. The third accused, Jaspal Parmar, had joined East Bengal from Salgaocar but asked for release a few weeks back, East Bengal media manager Gautam Roy said, adding he was no longer part of the team.
The girl was allegedly raped by the four accused at their apartment in a north Kolkata highrise. She was allegedly taken by the cook on Monday afternoon to help with cleaning.