DCW, Hockey India spar on Sardar Singh case

New Delhi, Jun 29 () Taking strong exception to

Hockey India

's (HI) response in an alleged sexual assault case against Indian captain Sardar Singh, the

Delhi Commission for Women

has accused the federation of making "defamatory allegations and remarks" against the statutory body. The Commission, which termed as "false and malicious" the purported remarks of HI linking the

DCW

members with

AAP

, also refused federation's request for 10 weeks' time to submit the details sought by DCW, and asked it to send its reponse within a week or face action. "The Delhi

Commission

for

Women

takes strong exception to your response wherein defamatory allegations and remarks have been made against a Statutory body invested with the powers of a Civil Court. "Despite the intemperate language and your reluctance to participate/cooperate with us in meting out justice to the victim, we would like to give you further opportunity of seven days from the date of receipt of the instance communication failing which we will be constrained to take appropriate action in accordance with law," the notice read. In the notice, the DCW chief

Swati Maliwal

also stated that "the allegations of political jugglery and linkages with the political party 'AAP' against the members of the Commission are false and malicious", while adding that the Commission was discharging its duties on the basis of a complaint forwarded to it by a leader of the BJP, Poonam Azad. "Your attempt to intimidate the office bearers of this Commission whilst performing their legitimate statutory duties is severely unbecoming of an organization entrusted by the

Government of India

with the mandate of promoting the national game of Hockey in India," the DCW said.(MORE) PLB RT