The Haryana sports department suspended a woman athletic coach who accused a state minister and ex-captain of the Indian hockey team of sexual misconduct.
The Haryana sports department has suspended the woman junior athletic coach who accused Sandeep Singh, a minister of state in the Haryana government and former captain of the Indian hockey team, of sexual misconduct .
The coach filed a first information report (FIR) in December 2022 in Union Territory (UT) Chandigarh against Singh and has repeated her allegations .
The suspension order is silent on the reasons, although the coach insists it is because she is refusing to strike a deal and settle the case.
“The services of Ms…,Junior Athletic Coach, (posted in the office of) district sports officer, Panchkula are placed under suspension with immediate effect without prejudice,” Yashendra Singh, director, sports department said in an order dated August 11. Singh was not available for comment when contacted over phone to know what prompted the sports department to take this action over seven months after the woman lodged the FIR against the minister.
According to the woman , she was handed over suspension order at her residence on Monday evening, despite attending office that day.
“Yes, I have been suspended. Pressure is being mounted on me to hammer out a compromise (to withdraw the case). I have not been intimated the reasons for my suspension. I don’t know why they have taken this step. This is a yet another way for the government to pressurise me, but I am not going to yield,” she said over phone.
During the suspension period, the order says, the junior coach will be entitled to subsistence allowance as admissible under Rule 83 of Haryana Civil Services (general) Rules, 2016 and her post during the suspension period will remain the office of district sports officer, Panchkula where she is posted at present.
The Chandigarh Police booked Sandeep Singh, on December 31, 2022 night on the charge of sexual harassment, based on the woman’s complaint.
The FIR against Singh was registered in Chandigarh where the purported crime took place under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Singh was divested of the charge of sports and youth affairs portfolio a week after being booked. He, however, continues to hold the charge of printing and stationery department.
The minister has dismissed the accusations as false and Haryana government’s stand has been that investigation was underway and that mere allegation and registration of FIR does not prove that accused is guilty.