Haryana Govt Suspends Woman Coach Who Alleged Sexual Harassment by Sandeep Singh

An FIR was filed against BJP leader and former captain of Indian hockey team Sandeep Singh on 31 December.

BJP MLA Sandeep Singh (left) being administered the oath at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on 4 November 2019. Image used for representation purposes.

(Photo: PTI)

The Haryana government has suspended the junior athletic coach who had, in 2022, levelled sexual harassment allegations against then state sports minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sandeep Singh.

The backdrop: The Chandigarh Police, last year on 31 December, had lodged a First Information Report against Singh, an Olympian and former captain of the Indian hockey team, on charges of stalking, illegal confinement, and sexual harassment.

He was also booked for criminal intimidation following a complaint from the woman coach.

Why the suspension? The order does not say.

“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.

The allegations by the woman coach: The complainant had said that Singh had first seen her at a gym and then contacted her on Instagram.

He later insisted that they meet up, she claimed.

She was quoted as saying:

"He messaged me on Instagram and said my national games certificate is pending and wanted to meet in this regard...Unfortunately, my certificate has been misplaced by my federation and I have been taking it up with the authorities concerned."

She also claimed that when she did finally meet him at his residence-cum-camp office with some other documents she had, that is when Singh indulged in sexual misconduct.