Exclusive: Sardar Singh’s Kin Pressure Rape Accuser to Withdraw

The complainant alleges that she is under pressure to withdraw the rape charges against hockey star Sardar Singh.

Sardar Singh spoke to the media on Thursday to clarify his stand following allegations of sexual harassment by a British 21-year-old. (Photo: Facebook/Sardar Singh)

In an exclusive interview with The Quint, the 21-year-old British national who filed a complaint of rape against star hockey player Sardar Singh has said that she is under pressure to withdraw her complaint.

The British national filed a complaint in the Chanakyapuri police station in Delhi a month ago but, instead of acting on it, the police has been harassing her by calling her into the station at odd hours, she alleges.

There have been instances where I have been called into the police station at odd hours, like half past 11 at night. I have faced pressure to withdraw my complaint and the charges against him. 

Complainant

She alleges that Sardar Singh’s family, along with Mr Jain, the SHO of Chanakyapuri police station, forced her to withdraw her complaint.

When no action was taken by the police, the complainant moved to a Delhi court for assistance. On 8 July, her partial statement was recorded under oath before a Magistrate in the Patiala house court. Recording of her statement will continue on 15 July. The complainant is hopeful of getting justice from the court.

No FIR has been filed so far, that’s why I have come to the court. I expect an FIR will be filed in the next 4-5 days.

Complainant 

The 21-year-old British national also said that after the FIR is registered against Singh, she will send it to Rio Olympics 2016 so that Singh is stopped from playing hockey on ethical grounds.

She had filed the first complaint in Ludhiana police station in February five months ago but no FIR was registered against Singh. She proceeded to file another complaint with Delhi police but to no avail.

My complaint is justified by a lot of evidence, only 10% of which I presented to the court. The entire police system is corrupt, and Punjab police is among the worst. I came to Delhi and they assured me that they will not work like Punjab police but it seems they are twice as bad. 

Rape Complainant

According to the complainant’s lawyer, the police station cannot overlook a rape complaint.

As per the law, police has to file a rape FIR first and then investigate the matter, not vice versa. Here, the police is claiming that they are conducting an initial probe into the matter, and will file the FIR only after it is done. 

BS Joon, Complainant’s Lawyer

On Monday, the complainant moved an application in the court requesting action against Singh and the SHO of Chanakyapuri for pressuring her to withdraw the complaint.

The complainant claims that she has enough evidence to prove that she got engaged to Singh and that he forced her to undergo an abortion. They parted ways when she discovered that Singh was cheating on him.

Two important questions remain – why has the police not registered an FIR for rape against Sardar Singh? And will Singh, the star player of Indian hockey team, be permitted to represent India at the Rio Olympics if an FIR is indeed filed against him?

Also read:

Hockey Captain Sardar Singh in Trouble, Likely to Face Rape Charge