Terming as “absurd” the allegations of sexual harassment against his Cabinet Minister and India’s former hockey player Sandeep Singh, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that a person does not become guilty just because an accusation is levelled against him.
The police are investigating the matter and further action will be taken once the inquiry report comes, he said, days after Sandeep Singh gave up the Sports portfolio on moral grounds. He had claimed that the charges levelled against him by the woman coach are baseless. However, he had not resigned from the BJP-led Haryana Ministry.
“A woman sportsperson has levelled an absurd (anargal) allegation against the Sports Minister. But just levelling an allegation does not make a person guilty. The police probe the allegations…The Chandigarh police are investigating the matter and the Haryana police too are gathering its report. We will take further action once the (inquiry) report comes,” Khattar told reporters in Rajasthan’s Sirohi where he had gone to attend an event of the Brahma Kumaris.
Khattar said that being a Sports Minister, an issue might have been raised that an impartial inquiry is not taking place. Therefore, Singh will not remain a Sports Minister and he has been removed so that a proper and fair inquiry takes place, he said.
The Chandigarh police on Saturday registered an FIR against the 36-year-old BJP leader on charges of sexual harassment and wrongful confinement. Haryana Director General of Police also set up a committee after Singh lodged a complaint against the coach, claiming that she had tarnished his image.