Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh granted anticipatory bail in sexual harassment case
Chandigarh (PTI): A court here on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh in connection with a sexual harassment case registered against him last year on the complaint of a junior woman coach.
"The court has granted anticipatory bail to Sandeep Singh," the minister's counsel Siddharth Pandit, who along with the accused's main counsel Rabindra Pandit was present in the court, said.
Additional sessions judge Rajeev K Beri allowed the anticipatory bail plea of the minister, he said.
The court directed that the accused shall surrender before a trial court or area magistrate in Chandigarh within 10 days and will furnish personal bonds and surety, each of Rs 1 lakh, to the satisfaction of the said court.
The Chandigarh Police had last month filed a charge sheet, nearly eight months after the registration of the case.
The case stems from allegations of sexual assault made by a junior athletic coach from Haryana against the BJP leader.
Singh's counsels contended that he has been falsely implicated in this case whereas the complainant coach's counsel countered it.
Singh has been charged under IPC sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Singh, the Minister of State for Printing and Stationery, is a first-time MLA and former India hockey captain.
After he was charged, Singh gave up his portfolio on "moral grounds".
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TN govt reaffirms 21-yr age limit for liquor sales
Chennai (PTI): Seeking to curb rising alcohol consumption among minors in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has reinforced the legal age requirement of 21 for all liquor purchases and consumption.
The government has also ordered the closure of 717 liquor outlets across the state and warned of strict action against those who violate the new directives.
The state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the agency which holds a monopoly on sales of liquor, will be shutting 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 outlets near bus stations.
A senior TASMAC official on Thursday said that the staff at liquor shops have been instructed to check identity proof, including Aadhaar card, for all customers whose age is in question.
The official also said that the state government is considering a reduction in operational hours.
Currently, the liquor shops across the state operate from 12 noon to 10 pm.
"They are weighing a proposal to move the closing time to 8 pm," he added.
At present, the TASMAC operates a total of 4,765 liquor shops across the state. After the closure of 717 shops, it would come down to 4,048 outlets.
In 2025, the revenue from liquor sales stood at Rs 48,344 crore, which is the second highest after the registration department.
