Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh Booked For Sexual Harassment

Olympian and Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh stepped down after he was booked by the Chandigarh Police for sexually harassing a junior athletics coach.

The former captain of the Indian national hockey team denied the allegations, termed them as baseless, and called them "politically motivated".

A woman junior coach filed a police complaint against Singh for sexual harassment. A day after the complaint was filed, the Chandigarh police booked him for stalking, illegal confinement, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation.

Recently, the woman alleged that she had been receiving threats and was offered 1 crore rupees to leave the country.

Singh handed over his Sports portfolio to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, however, he has not resigned from the Cabinet.

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Sandeep Singh Booked For Sexual Harassment

The junior coach filed a police complaint against Sandeep Singh on Friday, December 30, 2022. She submitted the complaint to the Superintendent of Police (City_ Shruti Arora.

The complainant met Senior Superintendent of Police (UT), Manisha Chaudhary, along with SP Arora.

Reportedly, the complainant interacted with the two officers for at least an hour.

A police spokesperson said that Singh was booked under the Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354A (sexual harassment), Section 354B (compelling her to be naked), Section 342 (wrongful confinement) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation).

The woman junior coach alleged that Sandeep Singh first saw her at a gym and contacted her on the social media platform, Instagram. She alleged that Singh told her that her national games certificate is pending and wanted to meet her in this regard.

According to her complaint, she agreed to meet Singh at his residence-cum-camp office with other documents she had. She alleged that when she went there, the minister molested her.

The junior coach alleged, "he even tore my T-shirt. I was crying and I raised an alarm for help and though all his staff was there, no one helped me".

Singh called the allegations baseless and called for an independent probe. He added, "We will also get it probed because my image has been tarnished."

The junior coach and international-level athlete said, "There are many others facing such harassment in the state sports department".