Blow to Haryana ex-minister Sandeep, Chandigarh court frames molestation charges

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Chandigarh, July 29

A local court on Monday framed charges against Haryana’s former minister Sandeep Singh in an alleged molestation case registered two years ago while dismissing his application for discharge from the case.

The court has framed charges for the offences punishable under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or criminal force to woman with intent of disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of woman) of the IPC.

Meanwhile, the court has dismissed the application of the complainant to conduct trial against the former minister on rape charges. In the complaint filed under Section 209 of the CrPC, the complainant prayed before the court for committal of the case to the Court of Session after adding Sections 376 and 511 of the IPC. The court has also not chargesheeted the accused under Section 342 (wrongful confinement) mentioned in the FIR.

The police had registered a case against the minister on the complaint of a junior woman coach on December 31, 2022, at Sector 26 police station, Chandigarh.

In the complaint lodged with the Chandigarh Police, the coach had alleged that the former minister had molested her at his official residence on July 1, 2022. When she resisted, he pushed her and tore her T-shirt, but she managed to escape.

In his discharge application, Sandeep said he was implicated in the case due to political enmity.