The Asian Games silver Medallist Dutee Chand on Tuesday said she will take legal shelter against people blackmailing and criticizing her after disclosure of being in a same-sex relationship.
Dutee said, "I will take shelter of the law against persons and and organizations,” claiming that some media organizations were on "overdrive" to harm her by striking into her private life.
India fastest woman Dutee said she had kept her partner identity a secret, but still some channels had revealed the name and picture of her partner in public. "One should not poke their nose into the private life of other persons," said Dutee.
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Asked whether she will take legal action against her sister, whom she accused of "blackmailing" over the relationship, Dutee said, "The person may be my blood relation, but I will not spare anyone intruding into my privacy."
Dutee's elder sister, Saraswati, said, "My sister is being misled by some people. She is not saying the right things. Dutee's mother also did not approve her relationship.
Dutee who holds 100m national record (11.24 seconds), became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit being in a same-sex relationship.
Earlier, Dutee had said, "I am having a relationship with a 19-year-old woman from my village for the past five years. She is studying BA second year in a Bhubaneswar college. She is a relative of mine and whenever I come home, I spend time with her. She is a kind of soulmate for me and I want to settle down with her in future."