Mohali police asks cheerleaders for evidence in discrimination case

Express News Service Posted: May 30, 2008 at 0204 hrs
Mohali, May 29 The Mohali police have asked for evidence from the cheerleaders who alleged racial discrimination by an event management company which hired them to perform at Indian Premier League matches of the Punjab Kings XI. DSP Swarndeep Singh said Jorge Aldana, Art Director of Fierce Performance Productions, who had recruited the two women, had promised to provide police with the evidence in a day or two.

“I have spoken with Jorge over phone today and asked him for the evidence in support of the their allegations they promised in the complaint. They said they would provide the evidence in a day or two. We are waiting for the evidence to take further action,” Swarndeep said. Mohali police had received a complaint from Jorge Aldana thorugh email on behalf of two days ago and the Senior Superintendent of Police Ranbir Singh Khatrra ordered an investigation. In the complaint, it was also alleged that the event management company did not pay them to fly back to their country which amounts to breach of trust.

Police have already recorded the statements of CEO of Punjab Kings XI Neil Maxwell who has denied the allegations that the cheerleaders were not allowed to perform on the basis of their colour and termed the charges baseless. The event management company has also denied the charges of racial discrimination and said they had “utmost respect for professionals hired,” Police said the event management company has provided police the evidence in which cheerleaders in question had performed during the match and proof of this are the photographs which were taken during the match. Their agents have been duly paid for their work and we have receipts to support the same.