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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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
