Haryana Sports Minister Removed After Alleged Sexual Misconduct By Female Player: CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Singh, a former captain of the Indian hockey team, has also been charged with wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.

Former India hockey captain Sandeep Singh

On Tuesday, a woman player blamed Sports Minister Sandeep Singh but as of now, he is not guilty. As per ANI, “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 Manohar Lal Khattar.

Haryana | 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: CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Chandigarh

— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2023

Sandeep Singh stated on Sunday that he has given Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar charge of the Sports department till the investigation's report is released, hours after charges of sexual harassment were made against him. Earlier, a female coach who accused the former India hockey captain of sexual harassment met with the home minister on Sunday and demanded an investigation into the matter, news agency ANI reported. 

Haryana | Female coach who filed a sexual harassment complaint against state Minister Sandeep Singh met Home Minister, in Ambala

"He harassed me physically & mentally. At first, I tried to avoid him but he continued to harass me. I'm hopeful that action will be taken," she says pic.twitter.com/mE8bdDliX2

— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2023

The coach told ANI after meeting Anil Vij that: "He harassed me physically & mentally. At first, I tried to avoid him but he continued to harass me. I'm hopeful that action will be taken."

Singh, a former captain of the Indian hockey team, has also been charged with wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. The Haryana director general of police (DGP) formed a committee on Saturday after the minister filed a complaint against the coach, claiming she harmed his reputation.

Singh, a former Olympian, has been charged under sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (compelling her to be naked), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 506 of the penal code (criminal intimidation).