A court in Chandigarh has granted anticipatory bail to Haryana Minister and former Hockey team captain Sandeep Singh in connection with a sexual harassment case filed against him last year by a junior woman coach.
“The court has granted anticipatory bail to Sandeep Singh,” stated the minister’s counsel Siddharth Pandit, who, alongside the accused’s primary counsel Rabindra Pandit, was present in the court.
Additional sessions judge Rajeev K Beri approved the minister’s anticipatory bail plea, as confirmed by Siddharth Pandit.
The court has directed that the accused, Sandeep Singh, must surrender before a trial court or area magistrate in Chandigarh within 10 days. He is also required to furnish personal bonds and surety, each amounting to Rs 1 lakh, to the satisfaction of the said court.
Chandigarh Police filed 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 the BJP leader.
Sandeep Singh’s legal representatives argued that he has been falsely implicated in the case, while the complainant coach’s counsel countered this claim.
Sandeep Singh has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Sandeep Singh, who serves as the Minister of State for Printing and Stationery, is a first-time MLA and a former India hockey captain. Following the charges against him, Singh voluntarily relinquished his portfolio on “moral grounds.”
