Banned from the Pitch: Attempt to Murder Charges Sideline Three Puducherry Cricket Stars
Puducherry, April 22, 2026 — In a deeply disturbing development that has sent shockwaves through the domestic cricket circuit, the Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) has suspended three of its prominent first-class cricketers with immediate effect. The trio faces grave criminal charges, including an alleged attempt to murder the state’s Under-19 team coach.
The suspended players—identified as J Karthikeyan, A Aravindaraj, and S Santhosh Kumaran—have been regulars in Puducherry’s domestic setup, frequently featuring in premier tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The Attack on the Under-19 Coach
The drastic disciplinary action follows a violent altercation involving the state’s Under-19 coach, Venkataraman. According to official reports, the brutal assault took place late last year, on December 8, 2025.
The situation rapidly escalated from an internal dispute into a severe legal matter. A formal chargesheet has since been filed against the three cricketers by the Station House Officer at the Sedurapet Police Station under FIR 100/2025. The trio has been formally charged with assault and attempt to murder.
The CAP issued a strict statement on Wednesday, confirming the developments: “The matter is currently pending before the Hon’ble Judicial Magistrate, IV Court, Puducherry.”
Immediate and Indefinite Ban
Taking a hardline zero-tolerance stance on the violence, the Cricket Association of Pondicherry has imposed severe immediate penalties on Karthikeyan, Aravindaraj, and Kumaran.
The players have been stripped of their right to represent Puducherry in any capacity across all domestic and external cricket tournaments. Furthermore, they are strictly barred from entering the CAP Siechem campus in Tutipet, as well as any other CAP-controlled locations or training facilities.
CAP officials clarified that this is an indefinite suspension. “This suspension will remain in effect until the Hon’ble Court resolves the matter and clears the accused of all charges,” the association stated, effectively sidelining the trio from competitive cricket for the foreseeable future.
The accused players, however, retain the right to appeal the suspension before the Ethics Officer or Ombudsman of the state cricket body as the legal battle continues in court.
