SC To Hear Wrestlers' Plea Seeking FIR Against WFI Chief On April 28, Issues Notice To Delhi Police

The Supreme Court has listed the plea by wrestlers' seeking FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh on Friday.

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 has 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.

This comes a day after top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat 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.

Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia on Monday said that, unlike the last time, the wrestlers were now open to political parties joining their protest.

"We play and win for the country, not for any party. Not only one party but everyone congratulates us on our win. So, this time, we welcome all parties and countrymen to join our protest," Punia said.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had earlier announced the formation of the five-member oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, to look into the allegations. The panel submitted its report in the first week of April, but the ministry is yet to make its findings public. 

According to PTI, the Sports Ministry on Monday stalled the scheduled May 7 elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute an ad-hoc committee to conduct the polls within 45 days of its formation and also manage the sports body.