Indian para swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh has been sent back to India after being detained by Japanese police over allegations of sexually harassing and molesting a female hotel employee during the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) is considering a possible lifetime ban against the 40-year-old athlete.
According to the report, the alleged incident took place on Monday at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, where the Indian para-swimming team was staying.
The local organising committee informed the Indian delegation’s chef-de-mission office about an alleged sexual misconduct incident involving an Indian athlete. Police and senior hotel officials were present when the delegation reached the hotel.
Shaikh allegedly touched the female housekeeping employee inappropriately, made sexually suggestive gestures and attempted to grope her while she was carrying out her duties in his room. The employee reportedly left the room and informed her superiors.
Japanese police detained Shaikh and took him to a local police station. The delegation subsequently apologised to the employee and hotel authorities. Following intervention by the local organising committee, the Indian delegation was asked to provide a written apology and ensure the athlete’s departure from Japan.
Shaikh was moved to another hotel for the night and sent back to India on the first available flight on Tuesday afternoon. According to the PCI official, he was released after the written apology was submitted.
The PCI has reportedly informed the Union government about the proposed disciplinary action. The chef-de-mission’s office has recommended a lifetime ban, with a final decision expected at a meeting in New Delhi after the Games.
PCI officials, para-swimming administrators and members of the Indian delegation are expected to discuss the matter and recommend sanctions to the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.
The incident reportedly diverted senior delegation officials from the ongoing sporting events, while the hotel and local organising committee sought assurances regarding disciplinary action.
Shaikh, who hails from Madhubani district in Bihar, lives with his family in Mumbai’s Dharavi. He previously held the world No. 1 ranking in the men’s 100m butterfly S5 and 50m breaststroke SB4 categories, according to World Para Swimming records.
He represented India at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta and won gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Reykjavik International Games in 2025, reportedly setting Indian and Asian records.
Shaikh was scheduled to compete at the ongoing Games but was sent home without participating in his events.
The incident comes amid another reported case involving Indian hockey umpire and technical official Gurinder Singh Sangha, who was sent home from the Asian Games following sexual misconduct and harassment complaints by a Malaysian hockey official and a hotel employee.
The allegations against Shaikh have not been presented here as established findings, and the PCI’s proposed disciplinary action remains subject to a formal decision.