If SC Feels FIR Has To Be Lodged Straightaway, It Will Be Done: Delhi Police On Wrestlers' Protest

Delhi police on Wednesday said that if the Supreme Court feels an FIR has to be lodged straight away, it will be done.

Delhi police on Wednesday said that if the Supreme Court feels an FIR has to be lodged straight away, it will be done. The police told the top court that a preliminary probe was needed before FIR is registered on sexual harassment allegations of women wrestlers. The apex court said that the Delhi police may put forth its views on April 28 when the court will hear the plea of wrestlers. This came after the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the plea by seven wrestlers seeking registration of FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh.

The top court listed the matter on Friday, April 28. As per ANI, the court noted that there are serious allegations that are contained in the petition by Wrestlers who have represented India, The Supreme Court also issued notice to Delhi Police pertaining to the plea filed by seven wrestlers.

Earlier in the day, former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other leaders joined protesting Wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. This comes after Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia on Monday said that the wrestlers are open to welcoming any political party which wants to join their cause. Notably, wrestlers had denied the participation of political parties in their agitation last time, but now they have changed their course. The sportspersons are demanding the registration of FIR among other actions against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing some women wrestlers.

Top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat on Monday moved the apex court seeking registration of FIR against WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, ANI reported. The wrestlers resumed their protest after three months at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday against the WFI chief for allegedly sexually assaulting women wrestlers.

The wrestlers have demanded that the Centre make public the findings of the five-member oversight committee that investigated the allegations against the WFI chief. The grapplers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya, had started their protest over the issue in January but ended their sit-in after an assurance from Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

On Sunday, the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) said it had received a complaint from the women wrestlers alleging that they had given a written complaint to police two days back, but no FIR had not been registered till now. The wrestlers have stressed that they would remain at the protest site till police file an FIR in the case.