Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh Gets Anticipatory Bail In Sexual Harassment Case

A local Chandigarh Court granted anticipatory bail to Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by a junior female coach.

File Photo of Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh (Image Source: PTI)

Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh on Friday received major relief as a local Chandigarh Court granted him anticipatory bail in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by a junior female coach. The former Haryana Sports Minister, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a junior female coach, appeared in court yesterday seeking anticipatory bail to avoid incarceration. However, the complainant had raised concerns about not receiving a copy of the bail plea filed by Sandeep Singh.

As a result, she submitted an application to the court requesting access to the document, which was provided. The case was then scheduled for Friday and now, he has been granted anticipatory bail.

The ruling was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Rajeev K Beri, who allowed the minister's anticipatory bail plea, according to Siddharth Pandit, counsel for Sandeep Singh, and Rabindra Pandit, the accused's lead counsel, both present during the court proceedings, news agency PTI reported.

Under the terms of the anticipatory bail, the court has stipulated that the accused must surrender himself before a trial court or the area magistrate in Chandigarh within a 10-day period. Additionally, Singh is required to provide personal bonds and surety, each amounting to Rs 1 lakh, to the satisfaction of the designated court.

This decision follows the Chandigarh Police filing a charge sheet last month, nearly eight months after the case was initially registered. The case revolves around allegations of sexual assault made by a junior athletic coach from Haryana against Sandeep Singh, who is a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Throughout the legal proceedings, Singh's legal team maintained his innocence, contending that he had been falsely implicated in this case. On the other side, the complainant coach's legal counsel vehemently countered these claims.

Sandeep Singh is facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 354 (pertaining to assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354A (related to sexual harassment), Section 354B (concerning assault or criminal force with the intent to disrobe), Section 342 (involving wrongful confinement), and Section 506 (relating to criminal intimidation).

Sandeep Singh, a first-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and former captain of the Indian national hockey team, voluntarily relinquished his ministerial portfolio on moral grounds after these charges were levelled against him.

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