New Delhi: Even because the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet towards benched Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Chandigarh Police have but to resolve on prosecuting related allegations introduced by a lady athlete towards Haryana minister and former Indian hockey captain Sandeep Singh greater than six months in the past.
The Chandigarh Police had filed a First Info Report (FIR) towards Sandeep Singh after the observe and discipline athlete held a press convention on 29 December 2022. A Particular Investigation Workforce (SIT) shaped to analyze the case is, nevertheless, but to submit its findings.
ThePrint reached Deputy Superintendent of Police Palak Goel, an officer of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu Police Providers (DANIPS) and the investigating officer (IO) within the case, by way of textual content message for a touch upon the problem. This report will likely be up to date if and when a response is obtained.
Like Brij Bhushan, Sandeep Singh, who impressed the Hindi movie Soorma, has additionally been booked underneath numerous IPC sections coping with sexual harassment — 354 (assault of prison power to lady with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and 354B (assault or use of prison power to lady with intent to disrobe.
As well as, he faces expenses underneath sections 342 (wrongful confinement), and 506 (prison intimidation) and 509 (phrase, gesture or act to insult the modesty of a lady). He’s but to be arrested within the case.
In contrast to within the case of Brij Bhushan, nevertheless, there have been no extended protests demanding Sandeep Singh’s resignation, regardless that requires his dismissal had been raised within the Haryana meeting.
Quickly after the fees, the previous hockey captain introduced he was stepping apart from the sports activities ministry till investigations had been accomplished. He, nevertheless, remained minister for printing and stationery.
However requires his dismissal continued even after this, with the opposition Congress elevating the demand in meeting in the course of the state’s price range session in February. The minister didn’t attend the session at the moment.
Regardless of the rising clamour for his resignation, the BJP has defended the minister. In a pointy retort to media queries, Khattar in January called the girl’s accusation “absurd”, even saying allegations “didn’t make one responsible”.
Additionally Learn: Chargesheet weak, reveals cops defending Brij Bhushan Singh, says protesting wrestler
Delay in chargesheet
At a press convention she held on 29 December final 12 months, the girl athlete, additionally a junior coach, claimed Sandeep Singh had referred to as her to his residence and tried to the touch her “inappropriately”.
Within the FIR towards Sandeep Singh, filed at Chandigarh’s Sector 26 police station, the athlete accused the previous hockey star of attempting to kiss her and tug at her T-shirt, which tore within the course of, and trying to rape her on 1 July 2022. She additionally alleged that he threatened to switch her if she stored refusing his advances.
Since then, the complainant has voiced her unhappiness on the tempo of investigations.
In an interview with ThePrint, she cited an incident of alleged sexual assault that occurred on 2 March, 2022.
“After I rejected his advances, he grabbed me by my hair and banged my head towards the wall. He tore the crop high I used to be carrying after which complimented my bra, saying purple is his favorite color,” she had stated.
When ThePrint visited her on 9 Could, IO Palak Goel had refused to touch upon the delay in submitting the chargesheet.
Police, in the meantime, have repeatedly sought a polygraph check on Sandeep Singh, even transferring an utility within the Panchkula district court docket on 10 March. After taking additional dates from the court docket 4 occasions, the minister posted an in depth response on 5 Could by which he refused to bear the check.
As an alternative, he accused the SIT of prolonging the “agony”, stretching the matter, and submitting purposes for conducting numerous assessments that can’t be admitted in proof.
Former commissioner of Delhi Police Neeraj Kumar, whereas chatting with ThePrint in Could, had stated that the delay in submitting a chargesheet or a police request for a polygraph check will not be uncommon developments.
“Throughout my stint as commissioner, I had filed a chargesheet 13 years after the case was registered,” Kumar had stated then, including that the IO can’t be requested in regards to the delay.
“Solely supervising officers or courts can ask that query.”
Deepanshu Bansal, the complainant’s lawyer, stated the girl athlete had submitted all her statements and proof to the SIT within the first week of January.
“The mapping of the crime scene, witness proof and statements had been all finished in January itself. If any frequent man is booked underneath such sections, they normally get a chargesheet inside three months. This sort of delay, particularly when a minister is concerned within the case, is just not justified,” Bansal had advised ThePrint then.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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