Sardar Singh denies sexual harassment allegations, says the girl not his 'fiancee'

Breaking his silence less than 24 hours after an India-origin girl from the UK filed a police complaint of 'attempt to rape' against him, India hockey captain Sardar Singh has refuted reports of being engaged to the girl or harassing or assaulting her in any manner.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Chandigarh for a Hockey India League match, Sardar said he needs time to study the police complaint but maintained that "nothing of that sort happened" when specifically asked if he got engaged to the girl.

"I will first look what is the complaint, give me time...I will answer all the allegations," he told reporters after arriving with his HIL team Punjab Warriors. "I came to know about this late last night only. I had a match yesterday [in Delhi] and have to play a match tomorrow as well."

While maintaining that he never got engaged with the girl, he didn't deny of his relations with her.

The 21-year-old UK girl had on February 1 filed a complaint at the Kum Kalan police station in Ludhiana accusing Sardar of "attempt to rape". The Ludhiana police commissioner then ordered an inquiry into the case. The police are yet to file an FIR.

Earlier in the day, an influential Hockey India official also supported Sardar, accusing the girl of 'blackmailing' the India captain.

"This girl is blackmailing him; that's the factual situation. This is what players and officials have told me. Sardar has my full support on this issue," the official told IBNLive.

"I can't interfere in anybody's personal life, but I know of the situation for the last two years. She has been stalking him for the past two years, and the coaches have also noted that - be it Roelant [Oltmans], [Terry] Walsh or [Paul} van Ass. She was at times also told to leave the team hotel," the official added.

Sardar's father, who lives in the Sirsa district in Haryana, told CNN-IBN that his son will soon conduct a press conference to clear everything. He also denied of knowing the girl or his son getting engaged to her.

The complainant is also a junior international hockey player for England and lives in London. She claims to have met Sardar during the 2012 London Olympics and getting engaged to him at his native place in the presence of his family.