Allegation doesn't make a person guilty: Khattar on sexual harassment case

Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar on Tuesday termed as absurd the allegations of sexual harassment against minister Sandeep Singh and said a person does not become guilty just because an accusation is levelled against himHe said the police are investigating the matter and further action will be taken once the inquiry report comesSingh gave up the sports portfolio on Sunday saying he has taken the step on moral grounds and claimed that the charges levelled against him by the woman coach are baseless However he had not resigned from the BJPled Haryana ministryA woman sportsperson has levelled an absurd anargal allegation against the sports minister But just levelling an allegation does not make a person guilty The police probes the allegationsThe Chandigarh police is investigating the matter and the Haryana Police too is gathering its report We will take further action once the inquiry report comes Khattar told reporters in Rajasthans Sirohi where he had gone to attend an event of the Brahma KumarisKhattar said being a sports minister an issue might have been raised that an impartial inquiry is not taking place Therefore Singh will not remain a sports minister and he has been removed so that a proper and fair inquiry takes place he saidAlso read Sexual allegations probe Sandeep Singh hands over Sports Ministry to Haryana CMBeing a minister in the sports department an issue might have been raised that an impartial inquiry is not taking place Therefore he will not remain a sports minister he has been removed from there so that a proper and fair inquiry takes place the chief minister saidThe Chandigarh police on Saturday registered an FIR against the 36yearold BJP leader on charges of sexual harassment and wrongful confinementThe Haryana Director General of Police set up a committee after Singh lodged a complaint against the coach claiming she had tarnished his imageA khap panchayat on Monday threatened to launch a big agitation if Singh is not sackedThe woman coach meanwhile recorded her statement before the Chandigarh police here on Tuesday A womens organisation also demanded that the Haryana government should have initiated criminal proceedings against the ministerllIndia Democratic Womens Association vice president Jagmati Sangwan said guidelines under The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place Prevention Prohibition and Redressal Act 2013 or the POSH Act are clear an FIR should be registered and criminal proceedings be initiated against the accusedThe matter involves a minister who has committed the alleged crime from a position of power He has not resigned from his post and continues to exercise all the powers of a cabinet minister He is in a position to influence the investigation she saidSangwan said the committee constituted by the Haryana DGP was not going to serve any purposeWhen an FIR has already been registered by the Chandigarh police this committee will serve no purpose but it can only hamper the probe she claimedThe chief minister should immediately sack the minister and initiate a criminal case The FIR which has been lodged in Chandigarh and they should be provided a fair environment to investigate him properly she saidSangwan a former volleyball player who has received the prestigious Bhim award for outstanding sportspersons in Haryana said she has also served as assistant director sports of the MDU university in Rohtak earlier and knows very well what the woman coach must be going through right nowShe should be given justice in the case What other motive can be for her to level such allegations Is she Sandeep Singhs political rival she askedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever