Charges have been formally framed against former Haryana Minister and BJP leader Sandeep Singh following allegations of sexual harassment by a junior woman coach. The court proceedings, overseen by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rahul Garg, marked a significant development in the case that has drawn considerable attention since last year.
The court rejected a discharge application submitted by Singh, indicating that the trial will proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. According to the complainant’s counsel, Deepanshu Bansal, the charges include Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354A (sexual harassment), Section 354B (assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), and Section 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
Additionally, the court dismissed a plea by the complainant to include Section 376 (rape) in the charges, setting the stage for the next hearing on August 17.
The allegations stem from an incident reported by a junior athletic coach who accused the BJP leader of sexual assault. The complaint was officially registered on December 31, 2022, at the Sector-26 police station. At the time of the complaint, Singh, a former captain of the Indian hockey team and a first-time MLA, was serving as a minister.
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Singh has denied the allegations, stating that he has been falsely implicated in the case. The upcoming trial will further examine the evidence and testimonies related to the charges framed against him.
