Shortly after images and news of the incident, reported first by TOI on September 18, spread like wildfire, the UP government suspended the sports officer of Saharanpur, Animesh Saxena, and ordered an inquiry against him. The contractor, who was given responsibility for cooking the food and serving it to the players, was blacklisted. The incident drew sharp condemnation from several politicians, including BJP’s Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal among a host of others. Union sports minister Anurag Thakur said he has directed “strict action” in the matter.