Sexual Harassment Case Against Sandeep Singh: ‘Accused but not guilty’, says Haryana CM Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister Khattar on January 3 backed Sandeep Singh over the sexual assault allegations against him by saying that ‘he is not guilty yet,’ and ‘we will wait for the investigation to be over’.
Sandeep Singh resigned from his responsibilities as Haryana Sports Minister on January 1 after a case of sexual assault was filed against him on the complaint of a junior woman coach.
“A woman player has accused Sports Minister (Sandeep Singh) but he is not guilty yet. Meanwhile, we have removed him from the post, so that the investigation can be done smoothly. We will wait for the investigation to be over,” said CM Khattar as quoted by ANI.
Haryana | A woman player has accused Sports Minister (Sandeep Singh) but he is not guilty yet. Mwanwhile, we have removed him from the post, so that the investigation can be done smoothly. We will wait for the investigation to be over: CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/MUzTfEYX1L
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2023
A female coach has levelled serious allegations of sexual harassment against Singh. The woman said that the former minister harassed her for nine months from February to November last year, through messages on social media. She alleged that Singh touched her inappropriately and also threatened her in messages. As per the woman coach, she had to quit social media due to the constant harassment.
“A female coach of Haryana submitted a complaint against Haryana Sports Minister on December 30. Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against him. It is being investigated and we will do a fair probe,” said Chandigarh DSP Ram Gopal.
A female coach of Haryana submitted a complaint against Haryana Sports Minister on December 30. On the basis of the complaint, a case has been registered against him. It is being investigated and we will do a fair probe: Ram Gopal, DSP, Chandigarh Police https://t.co/0wL7W6qD14 pic.twitter.com/pI6Yb0mh8Y
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2023
Following the case, Sandeep Singh on Sunday resigned from Sports portfolio, saying that the allegations against him were an attempt to 'spoil his image'.
"There is an attempt to spoil my image. I hope there will be a thorough investigation into the false allegations levelled against me. I hand over the responsibility of the Sports department to the Chief Minister until the report of the investigation comes out," he said.
Following the news, anger has grown in the political lane against Singh.
Haryana Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Hooda demanded a fair investigation into the matter.
"Sandeep has given his resignation and now a fair investigation should be done," he said
Protests have also taken place in several places of the state as protesters demanded justice for the woman coach. Opposition parties and women’s rights activists said that a fair probe is not possible until the minister is sacked.
Sandeep Singh is a sitting BJP MLA from Kurukshetra’s Pehowa. He was also the former captain of the Indian national hockey team. He was also a judge in a reality TV show.
A biopic was released based on Singh in 2018, titled 'Soorma', in which Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh played his role.
He gained popularity after making a remarkable recovery from a gunshot injury when he was 20. Just two days before the 2007 Hockey World Cup, an assistant sub-inspector of the Railways Police Force unintentionally shot Sandeep Singh on a train bound for Delhi, leaving him for a year paralysed from the waist down.
Police investigation into the matter is underway.
First published: 3 January 2023, 14:33 IST