Wrestlers' Protest: Court Seeks Status Report From Cops On Sexual Harassment Case Against WFI Chief

A Delhi court has asked for a status report from the Delhi police about the sexual harassment case against wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Singh.

A Delhi court has asked for a status report from the Delhi police about the sexual harassment case against wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Singh.

A Delhi court has sought a status report from the Delhi Police over the sexual harassment case against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after days of intense protests by wrestlers in the national capital. The case was registered against Singh after the matter reached the Supreme Court.  The judge has issued a notice to Delhi police on a plea moved by the protesting wrestlers seeking monitoring of the investigation and recording of the statement of the alleged victims before the court.

The court directed the police to file the report by May 12 when it will further hear the matter. The women wrestlers had approached the Supreme Court and two FIRs were registered on April 28. One FIR has been registered against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under the POCSO Act in the matter of sexual harassment with a minor girl while another FIR has been registered for sexual harassment of other complainants, PTI reported.

Star wrestler Sakshi Mallik on Tuesday said the Centre was given an 'ultimatum' by protesting wrestlers to look into their demands and come out with a solution by May 21, failing which a big decision will be taken by them.  Star wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Mallik had been protesting at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi since April 23 seeking action against the Wrestlers Federation of India's (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Singh over sexual harassment charges. 

Many organisations, including farmers had come out in support of the protesting wrestlers. Several farmers broke through police barricades earlier this week to join the protest at Jantar Mantar. Purported videos showed farmers climbing the barricades and even dragging and pushing some of them away in a bid to enter the protest venue, PTI reported. Farmers in large numbers reached the protest site to express their solidarity and seek justice for female wrestlers. They also carried their union flags and raised anti-Modi slogans.

In the last week of April, Delhi Police registered two FIRs in connection with the sexual harassment allegations levelled by women wrestlers against Singh. The first FIR pertains to allegations levelled by a minor which has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning outraging modesty, according to a police officer, PTI reported.

The second FIR was registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints by adult complainants under relevant IPC sections pertaining to outraging of modesty, the officer said, adding investigation into both the FIRs was being taken up in right earnest.