CHANDIGARH: Haryana home minister Anil Vij told the state assembly on Monday that there have been 24 complaints of sexual harassment by sportswomen in the state since 2019. These include the allegation by a sportswoman and junior athletic coach against Haryana minister and former international hockey player Sandeep Singh, which is now being heard by a court in Chandigarh.
Vij was responding to a query by INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala, who had sought a discussion on the issue of harassment of sportswomen in Haryana. Vij said six of the 24 complaints were either withdrawn or cancelled.
The complaints have been filed against coaches, sportsmen and officials. While five cases were registered in 2019, two were filed in 2020, six in 2021, three in 2022 and eight this year. Four of the accused were acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the charge of sexual harassment in court while trial is on in 14 cases.
Referring to the Sandeep Singh case, Vij said the incident was being probed by the Chandigarh police and the case was being tried in a court .
Among the cases was one involving a Taekwondo player, who in 2019 accused her wrestling coach of sexual harassment in Gurugram. However, the complainant’s father died during this period and the prosecution failed to prove the charges. Similarly, a wrestler lodged a complaint in 2019 against her fellow wrestler and the son of a coach at Rohtak’s women police station. However, she withdrew her complaint later.
The cases being tried include the one lodged by a hockey player against a coach at Kurukshetra’s women police station and a wrestler’s complaint against her coach which was registered in November 2022 in Sonipat. In both these cases, the coaches were arrested.
Vij was responding to a query by INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala, who had sought a discussion on the issue of harassment of sportswomen in Haryana. Vij said six of the 24 complaints were either withdrawn or cancelled.
The complaints have been filed against coaches, sportsmen and officials. While five cases were registered in 2019, two were filed in 2020, six in 2021, three in 2022 and eight this year. Four of the accused were acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the charge of sexual harassment in court while trial is on in 14 cases.
Referring to the Sandeep Singh case, Vij said the incident was being probed by the Chandigarh police and the case was being tried in a court .
Among the cases was one involving a Taekwondo player, who in 2019 accused her wrestling coach of sexual harassment in Gurugram. However, the complainant’s father died during this period and the prosecution failed to prove the charges. Similarly, a wrestler lodged a complaint in 2019 against her fellow wrestler and the son of a coach at Rohtak’s women police station. However, she withdrew her complaint later.
The cases being tried include the one lodged by a hockey player against a coach at Kurukshetra’s women police station and a wrestler’s complaint against her coach which was registered in November 2022 in Sonipat. In both these cases, the coaches were arrested.