Indian-Origin BBL Star Nikhil Chaudhary's Sexual Assault Case: Check Full Story
When Hurricanes star Nikhil Chaudhary faced sexual assault charges [Source: @codecricketau/X.com]
In a high-profile case, Nikhil Chaudhary, a 27-year-old Indian-origin cricketer playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, faced trial in a sexual assault case. A 20-year-old woman had accused him of rape in May 2021, compelling the case to go to trial in the District Court of Townsville.
Nikhil Chaudhary won hearts in his debut stint with Hobart Hurricanes in 2023. In 11 games, he amassed 156 runs with a strike rate of 139.28. However, before the batter could make it big, a serious controversy derailed his professional career.
Earlier this year, Chaudhary was accused of raping a 20-year-old woman at a nightclub in North Queensland. According to the complainant, she was assaulted in Chaudhary's car after they danced and kissed at the club. The complainant claimed she did not consent to the act, alleging it was abrupt and caused injury.
Nikhil Chaudhary acquitted in rape case
After she approached the police, a trial took place at the District Court in Townsville, where Nikhil Chaudhary's defence contended that any interaction was consensual and pointed to inconsistencies in the complainant's recollection due to alcohol consumption.
The cricketer's attorney, Claire Grant, refuted the woman's claims, stating that any interaction in the car was consensual. Grant also referred to the fact that there is no evidence to associate with the injury and read the denial of any wrongdoing during his police interview.
After hearing both sides, the jury deliberated on the case, which involved testimony from the complainant in a closed court, and ultimately found Nikhil Chaudhary not guilty. He was acquitted of all the charges, and the woman's complaint was dismissed.
Cricket Tasmania, the governing body of Chaudhary's team, stated it had no prior knowledge of the charges before the trial and declined to make any further comments.