Indian hockey captain Sardar Singh is in a soup after a 21-year old British national, also a hockey player, filed a complaint of "sexual exploitation" against him to the Punjab Police. The Indian hockey skipper on Wednesday claimed that he knew the woman but denied that he was engaged to her.
Talking to waiting reporters at Chandigarh airport where he came to play a match, Sardar said, "I will first see what report police have written. Only then will I get back to reply all your questions. I was not engaged (to the complainant),"
"I have just come from a game last night. I am concentrating on the next game," Sardar said, as he pulled himself away from the media questioning. He is scheduled to participate in a match in the ongoing Premier Hockey league.
Meanwhile, Sardar's father Gurnam Singh told reporters in Haryana's Sirsa district that his son knew the woman but denied both were engaged.
The Punjab Police is investigating the complaint from the British national who alleged she was "sexually exploited by her fiancé, Sardar Singh". The complainant was the first Sikh player in Britain's under-19 women's hockey team, said ludhiana police.
The written complaint with ludhiana police, claiming she has been engaged to Sardar for the past four years and alleged that he "mentally, physically and emotionally tortured" her.
However, Sardar said, "I know her but it's wrong to say that I assaulted her."
"After last night's match, I came to know about the allegations. Tomorrow I have a match again. It is a very serious allegation. I will look at the report and consult my lawyer. I will answer all questions but I need some time," he said.
Investigations in the case have been marked to the Koom Kalan police station in ludhiana district. Police station incharge SS Nagra confirmed the matter was under probe following the complaint. No FIR has so far been lodged as police said it will do so after preliminary investigations.
The woman had complained to ludhiana Police Commissioner P.S. Umranangal who marked an enquiry into it.
The woman alleged that Sardar Singh got engaged to her in 2014 and she became pregnant last year as a result of their physical relations. She said the hockey skipper forced her to go for an abortion and began avoiding her thereafter.
The complainant said she met Sardar in 2012 after becoming friends through a social networking site. She claimed they began living together after their engagement.