A significant turn of events unfolded on Saturday at the Chandigarh District Court in the ongoing molestation case against Sandeep Singh—former captain of the Indian hockey team and former Sports Minister of Haryana. During the court proceedings, the testimony of the victim—a junior female coach—was recorded for the first time. Standing in the witness box, the victim not only reiterated her allegations but also remained steadfast in her statements throughout the entire course of her testimony.
The hearing for this high-profile case commenced on Saturday at the Chandigarh District Court amidst tight security. According to legal experts, the initial testimony of the victim is considered the most crucial element in any sexual harassment case. According to the prosecution, the junior female coach provided the court with a detailed account of the events that allegedly took place at the Minister’s official residence in December 2022. Despite initial questioning by the defense lawyers, no contradictions were observed in the victim’s statements. She explicitly leveled allegations against Sandeep Singh, accusing him of molestation, harassment, and threatening to ruin her career.
This case first grabbed headlines when the junior athletics coach publicly came forward and leveled serious allegations against the then-Sports Minister, Sandeep Singh. Subsequently, following a lengthy investigation, the Chandigarh Police filed a chargesheet against Sandeep Singh, invoking serious sections of the law including outraging the modesty of a woman (IPC 354), sexual harassment (354A), attempting to disrobe (354B), criminal intimidation (506), and wrongful confinement (342). For Sandeep Singh—once an inspiration to the nation’s youth through the film *Soorma*—this legal battle has emerged as a major challenge to his political career. Following the allegations, he was compelled to step down from the Sports Department. Now, the victim’s resolute testimony has made the path for his defense even more arduous.
