Wrestlers’ Protest: Delhi Police Provides Security To 7 Complainants, WFI Chief Blames Cong Leader For Agitation

WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh claimed that the families and girls who have levelled allegations against him belong to akhadas run by Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Wrestler Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ( Image Source :PTI )

The Delhi Police on Sunday provided security to seven complainants from the wrestlers' party who have been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. As per a report by news agency ANI, the police provided security to the complainants and contacted them regarding the recording of their statements, said the Delhi Police. The statement will be recorded soon, it added.

The WFI chief was earlier booked under sections of outraging the modesty of a woman, stalking, and section 10 of the POCSO Act in two FIRs.

The BJP MP has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers, and a minor girl.

As per a PTI report, the BJP MP was also booked in sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, while the other was registered under sections 10 of POCSO Act.

The incidents mentioned in the FIRs allegedly took place between 2012 and 2022 in different places, including abroad, said the PTI report. 

Meanwhile, Singh who has denied the allegations said that the motive of the protest was “politics” rather than his resignation. 

"It's evident since the beginning that their (protesting wrestlers) motive is politics, not (my) resignation," Singh said while speaking to reporters. 

He also leveled allegations against Congress saying the families and girls who have raised the allegations belong to akhadas run by Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda. "90% of the athletes & guardians of Haryana trust the Wrestling Federation of India. A few families & the girls who have leveled allegations belonged to the same 'akhada'...The patron of that 'akhada' is Deepender Hooda," he said.

The WFI chief said Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav “knows the truth” when asked why the former did not attend the protest, unlike other Opposition parties. 

"Akhilesh Yadav knows the truth. We know each other since childhood. 80% of the wrestlers in Uttar Pradesh belong to families with Samajwadi Party ideology. They call me 'Netaji'. They say how their Netaji is," Singh said.