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Asian Games gold medal winner Pinki Pramanik, who was charged of rape and cheating after medical reports confirmed that 'she' was actually a 'man', has claimed that the police is driving her to commit suicide.
-Medical reports confirm Pinki Parmanik is male
Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, Pramanik, an employee of Eastern Railway, said the rape charge filed against her by Anamika Acharya, her then live-in partner, was completely false and baseless.
-Athlete Pramanik accused of being male, held for rape
"I know I am innocent and still I am being targeted so much. I can't help but think that the police want me to commit suicide. This situation is really bad for me. There is a lot of pressure on me from them. No, I am not in touch with any other sportspersons," said Pramanik.
-Railways suspends Pinki Pramanik from service
"I was deeply hurt when I saw this news (charges of cheating) on television, because when I was granted bail, then this thing never came up. The police also have suddenly chargesheeted me on this aspect, and I am feeling really awful. Why am I being punished for something, which I have not done? I am also a human being and I have feelings too. It is difficult for me to step out of the house now," Pramanik added.
Pramanik claimed that having brought laurels to the nation, the Ministry of Sports should intervene in the matter.
Pramanik was granted bail by a local court in North 24 Parganas district on July 10.
Pramanik''s mother, Pushpa, asserted that her daughter was not guilty and that she would never cheat anyone.
A 29-second MMS showing the athlete completely naked has already gone viral on the internet.
The video was of Pinki undergoing a gender verification test at a private nursing home after she was arrested on June 14, 2012.
Another 2006 Asian Games medallist, Santhi Soundarajan, hailing from southern state of Tamil Nadu, was also stripped of the women's 800 metres silver medal after failing a gender test.