DCW urges cops to file FIR against hockey captain

Indian hockey was once again dragged into controversy on Wednesday, when a British woman alleged of being raped and tortured in the pretext of marriage by Indian Hockey captain Sardar Singh. 

The victim has alleged rape and assault by Singh and a complaint was filled with the Ludhiana police commissioner in January, who had formed a SIT to investigate before deciding on an FIR. After failing to get an FIR registered in Punjab, the victim contacted DCW head Swati Maliwal pleading for initiation of action. 

Acting on the victim’s plea, Maliwal asked Delhi Police for immediate registration of an FIR against the accused for raping and provoking to commit suicide during the victim’s stay at a five star hotel in Delhi. However, most of the incidents occurred in Punjab. A senior cop of New Delhi district said that a complaint has been received from the DCW, alleging rape against Singh. The complaint states that the victim was also raped at a hotel in New Delhi therefore it falls under the Delhi Police’s jurisdiction and the police must register an FIR. 

“The complaint has been further forwarded to Chanakyapuri police station,” a cop said. However, the complain was yet to be converted into an FIR till late Wednesday. The Indian-origin woman, who is a former Under-19 England player, claimed to have been in a relationship with Sardar for the past four years and alleged he tortured her “mentally, physically and emotionally”, even forcing her to undergo an abortion last year. The woman claimed they got engaged in 2014 with the assent of both families but Sardar had refused to marry her. 

However, Singh had denied the charges in January when the matter came in public. She even alleged that despite sending written complaint to the Advisor of Hockey India and the current Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, no action was taken.