The wrestlers are demanding action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment and criminal intimidation allegations.
Published Jun 15, 2023 | 2:33 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 15, 2023 | 2:33 PM
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (Twitter)
Delhi Police on Thursday, 15 July, filed a charge sheet against BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the offences of sexual harassment and stalking of women wrestlers, while recommending the cancellation of a complaint filed by a minor wrestler against him, citing “no corroborative evidence”.
The government had assured the agitating wrestlers that the charge sheet in the case would be filed by 15 June, following which they had suspended their stir.
In the POCSO matter, the police submitted a report requesting for cancellation of the case based upon the statements of the complainant, who is the father of the minor, and the girl herself, a statement issued by Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa said.
Additional Sessions Judge Rajinder Singh in Patiala House court put the cancellation report for consideration on 4 July.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) entails a minimum imprisonment of three years. However, it is subjected to the section under which the crime is falling.
In the other case filed on the complaint of women wrestlers, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Kumar at Rouse Avenue court put up the charge sheet for 22 June for consideration.
The charge sheet was filed under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation), Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava said outside the court.
The wrestlers, who have demanded the arrest of the WFI chief, are contemplating their next move following the filing of the charge sheet, sources said.
The charge sheet has also been filed against Vinod Tomar, a suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), for the offences under sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
The protesting wrestlers have been demanding the arrest of Singh, who they have accused of sexually exploiting women wrestlers, including a minor.
On 7 June, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur met Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and assured the agitating wrestlers that the charge sheet in the case would be filed by 15 June.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned more than 180 people and also went to Singh’s residence in Gonda where it recorded statements of the outgoing WFI chief’s relatives, colleagues, house staff and associates.
The investigators also took a woman wrestler to the official residence of Singh in New Delhi to recreate the sequence of events that led to the alleged crime.
The wrestlers have threatened to resume their protest if a charge sheet is not filed by the specified period.
After his meeting on 7 June, Thakur addressed a press conference and said the wrestlers had suggested that the charge sheet in the case be filed by 15 June and the WFI elections be held by June 30.
The wrestlers had also suggested that an Internal Complaints Committee of WFI headed by a woman be formed. All these proposals were agreed to unanimously by the Sports Minister.
Following the assurance, the grapplers suspended their agitation till June 15.
The protesting wrestlers have been demanding the arrest of Singh, who they have accused of sexually exploiting women wrestlers, including a minor.
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