Wrestlers resume protest in opposition to WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

On Sunday, April 23, numerous prime Indian wrestlers along with Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat returned to Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest in opposition to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. It is notable {{that a}} grievance has moreover been lodged at Connaught Place Police Station by numerous female wrestlers on Friday this week in opposition to Singh accusing him of sexual harassment. The Delhi Police has not however registered an FIR inside the matter. 

A grievance has moreover been submitted to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), taking to Twitter DCW chief Swati Maliwal educated {{that a}} uncover has been issued to the police and wrote, “Several women wrestlers of the country had given a complaint of sexual harassment against the WFI President at Connaught Place Police Station two days ago. One of the complainants is also a minor. Till now the Delhi Police has not registered an FIR in the matter, which is against the law. Have given notice to police, reply to DCW in 48 hours.”

देश की कई महिला Wrestlers ने दो दिन पहले कैनॉट प्लेस पुलिस स्टेशन में WFI अध्यक्ष के ख़िलाफ़ यौन शोषण की शिकायत दी थी। एक शिकायतकर्ता नाबालिग भी है। अब तक दिल्ली पुलिस ने मामले में FIR दर्ज नहीं की, जो क़ानून के ख़िलाफ़ है। पुलिस को नोटिस दिया है, 48 घंटे में DCW को जवाब दे। pic.twitter.com/bvvgHZikCQ

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) April 23, 2023

We filed a grievance at CP Police Station, Sakshi Malik talked about all through a press conference. Two days have handed, however no FIR has been filed. Seven ladies, along with a juvenile, filed complaints. Nothing has been executed as of however, although it makes for a POSCO case.

#WATCH | Delhi: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik break down whereas interacting with the media as they protest in opposition to WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh pic.twitter.com/OVsWDp2YuA

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2023

Taking to Twitter earlier inside the day, wrestler Vinesh Phogat wrote that numerous female wrestlers who launched laurels to the nation have been harassed and sexually exploited by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. She moreover added that no matter submitting a police grievance, no FIR has been registered however. 

@PMOIndia @DelhiPolice, @NCWIndia @DCPNewDelhi , @PMO_NaMo, @IndiaSports, @India_NHRC, @SupremeCourtIND, @MLJ_GoI, @timesofindia, @ThePrintIndia pic.twitter.com/cGvY9tAyie

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) April 23, 2023

Three months have handed since their preliminary sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in January of this 12 months. The protesting wrestlers had leveled an array of accusations in opposition to Singh and the federation, along with money embezzlement, psychological and sexual abuse, threats of lack of life, and sexual exploitation.

Following this, an Oversight Committee was formed by the federal authorities on January 23, with star boxer Mary Kom as its head. The committee was tasked with investigating the allegations leveled in opposition to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and a one-month deadline was moreover set, nonetheless, till now the findings of the committee have not been made public. Wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat have expressed their disappointment over the an identical. 

Yogeshwar Dutt, an Olympic medal-winning wrestler, former badminton participant, and member of the Mission Olympic Cell, Rajesh Rajagopalan, a former CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, and Radhica Sreeman, a former govt director (teams) of the Sports Authority of India, are the other members of the Oversight Committee.

Following the protests in January, Brij Bhushan Singh had rejected allegations of dictatorship and sexual harassment raised by wrestlers on 18th January 2023. Brij Bhushan Singh has talked about,  “I am ready to face an FIR, or CBI inquiry and even face the highest legal authority in India. I will hang myself if the allegations are found to be true.”