Source: 
India Today
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sandeep-singh-case-more-politicians-booked-for-crime-against-women-slugfest-escalates-2320078-2023-01-11
Author: 
India Today Web Desk
Date: 
11.01.2023
City: 
New Delhi

Sandeep Singh’s is not one only case. More politicians in other states have also been booked for crime against women.

In Short

  • Sandeep Singh, then Haryana Sports Minister was booked on sexual harassment charges
  • A BJP leader is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh
  • ADR says 9 political candidates have declared cases related to crime against women

On January 1, Sandeep Singh, then sports minister in BJP-ruled Haryana, was booked on charges of sexual harassment and wrongful confinement following a police complaint by a junior woman coach. On Wednesday, the Chandigarh Police reached the residence of Sandeep Singh, along with the junior coach, to probe the sexual harassment charges against him.

As many as five cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are registered against the hockey player-turned-minister. The Haryana government has also set up a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations levelled against him.

Earlier, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya issued a notification allocating the sports and youth affairs portfolio to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Singh has dismissed the allegations against him, stating that it is an “attempt to tarnish his image”, while Khattar has insisted that the allegations and subsequent registration of an FIR don’t prove anyone guilty.

Reacting to it, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala has alleged that the CM was making every attempt to give a “clean chit” to Sandeep Singh.

Amid the brouhaha over Sandeep Singh’s case, let’s take a look at a few other crimes against women involving Indian politicians and their kin which rattled the nation.

BJP LEADER ACCUSED OF RAPING MINOR

A recent incident of a BJP leader accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in Betul district of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh on January 2 this year has been making headlines.

The victim told the police that BJP leader Ramesh Gulhane (58) had allegedly called her to his house on January 2 evening and sexually abused her. But this was not the first time he did so. On earlier occasions, he had apparently offered her money and threatened her not to reveal anything about sexual abuse.

But, after being sexually abused for a long time, the victim finally told her family about it. The police were informed immediately. As per information, while the First Information Report (FIR) was registered, the accused absconded. An angry crowd set the BJP leader’s car on fire.

CONGRESS MLA BOOKED FOR RAPING WIFE

There are allegations that a Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh raped his wife. Umang Singhar, an MLA from Gandhwani in Dhar district, was booked for raping and performing unnatural sex with his fifth wife.

The Congress MLA, accused of torturing his wife right after their marriage, allegedly blackmailed her by recording obscene videos of them having unnatural sex without her consent. He also allegedly hanged his wife from the balcony and tried to murder her on October 26.

The police swung into action and went to the minister’s bungalow but by that time, the MLA had already been on the run.

CONGRESS MLA's SON

A ruling Congress lawmaker's son, Deepak Meena, was arrested in Rajasthan, ruled by the grand old party, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in February 2021.

As per police reports, the victim filed a rape complaint in the Dausa district, saying that the accused took her to a hotel, raped her, and recorded an obscene video to threaten her. The matter came to the fore recently and the accused was sent to judicial custody till January 13, 2023.

Deepak Meena’s father, Joharti Lal Meena, represents Alwar’s Rajgarh-Laxmangarg constituency in the state assembly, Rajasthan.

Many women’s safety campaigners have asked if politicians -- who claim to be the representatives of the public -- themselves violate women’s modesty, who do we look up to for a shield?

WHAT ADR DATA SAYS

Sandeep Singh joins the list of politicians who have faced sexual harassment taint. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report of November 2022, nine political candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of them, one candidate has a declared case related to rape under IPC Section 376.

Candidates with criminal cases pending against them are given tickets by political parties. This forces a pertinent question: Are we falling short in legislation or its execution? There are Acts that claim to protect the rights and dignity of women in India. But, as activists have asked, are they being implemented effectively?

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