Ex-Boxer Mary Kom To Head Committee That Will Probe Wrestlers' Sexual Harassment Charges Against WFI Chief

A new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) oversight committee, led by boxer Mary Kom, will now oversee day-to-day operations.

Ex-Boxer Mary Kom.

Source : Getty

A new oversight committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), led by boxer Mary Kom, has been created to oversee day-to-day operations in the wake of severe charges made against its president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh by the country's best wrestlers, news agency ANI reported.

Aside from Mary Kom, the new committee includes wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, badminton player Tripti Murigunde, and Captain Rajagopalan.

"Oversight Committee has been formed today. Mary Kom will head the Oversight Committee. For the coming month, the committee will investigate the allegations put up by the wrestlers," Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Oversight Committee has been formed today. Mary Kom will head the Oversight Committee. For the coming month, the committee will investigate the allegations put up by the wrestlers: Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur pic.twitter.com/C2KkkrXXI2

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2023

WFI and its president, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, have been in the limelight after top Indian wrestlers accused Singh of sexual harassment last week and went on strike to demand an investigation. The wrestlers ended their sit-in protest at the parliament building on Saturday after the government promised a four-week investigation into their complaints.

"We are finishing our protest," stated Bajrang Punia, one of the protesting wrestlers. The wrestlers, who included young Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, and Sonam Malik, began a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi last Wednesday, demanding that the WFI chairman be fired.

The wrestlers also demanded that the WFI be disbanded immediately and a new panel be formed, including grapplers.

Late Friday night, the aggrieved players called off their protest after getting assurances from the government that their grievances would be addressed and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was asked to step aside for four weeks. 

During this period, an oversight committee will probe allegations of sexual harassment and financial impropriety against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The Sports Ministry has asked the WFI to suspend "all ongoing activities with immediate effect", including the Ranking Tournament in Gonda, UP. The ministry has also suspended WFI's assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.

(With inputs from agencies)