Several athletes across the country were duped by a fake Khelo India advertisement on social media, inviting applications to participate in the Khelo India Games scheduled in Panchkula in Haryana in 2021.
The Sports Authority of India has received several complaints from grassroot-level athletes about the advertisement, which directed athletes to deposit Rs 6,000 for enrolling in the Khelo India camp and were assured that they can participate in Khelo India Games after trials. A phone number was mentioned in advertisement. Acting as an aspirant, SAI managed to get the bank account details of the person—a resident of Agra.
The advertisement also uses the logos of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India and Khelo India, which misled several athletes to believe it to be a government advertisement.
The Sports Authority of India has lodged an FIR with the Uttar Pradesh police and asked for an immediate investigation.
Khelo India is a government scheme and athletes do not need to pay any money to participate in it. No trials are conducted by SAI/Khelo India. Athletes qualify for Khelo India Games based on their performances in school games/university games organised by SGFI/AIU.
