Delhi women’s panel recommends FIR against Indian hockey team captain

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women has recommended registration of an FIR against captain of the Indian Hockey team, Sardar Singh, who has been accused of

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women has recommended registration of an FIR against captain of the Indian Hockey team, Sardar Singh, who has been accused of rape by a British citizen of Indian origin.

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DCW chief Swati Maliwal said the woman has alleged she was raped at a five-star hotel in Delhi after being threatened to be pushed down from the building.

“Since the incident of alleged rape has taken place in Delhi, the DCW has recommended registration of FIR against Singh to SHO Chanakyapuri. The recommendation has also been marked to the DCP and Police Commissioner and a daily diary entry of the complaint was made on Tuesday,” she said.

The woman, an international hockey player, said she met Singh when she was 17 years old. “I have a sent a complaint to Punjab Police in January but till now FIR was not registered. Sardar Singh had threatened me that no matter what I do, no action will be taken against him,” she said at a press conference organised by the DCW.

She alleged that she had approached Hockey India president Narendra Batra. “She even approached the Sports Authority of India. However, no action has been taken on her complaint to date,” Maliwal said.

DCW also issued a notice to Hockey India to explain its action and whether the airline and hotel tickets of the complainant (for travelling with Sardar Singh) were organised by them.

Ludhiana Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulukh said the case has been disposed of after no concrete evidence was found against Sardar Singh.

“None of the allegations by the woman has been found to be true. We had enquired with Bhaini Sahib dera if the two stayed overnight there. But our probe shows they never stayed there overnight. No incident of sexual harassment has been found at Bhaini Sahib,” said Aulukh.

Sardar Singh also rejected the rape allegations.

“For how many times I have to prove that I am not at fault and have never exploited her. Earlier she had approached the Punjab Police and complained against me. They have given me a clean chit after investigation,” said Sardar Singh, talking to HT from Bangalore.

“I don’t want to discuss the issue any more and want to focus only on Rio Olympics. It’s less than two months for the Games and I don’t want to get distracted by unnecessary issues,” he said.