Wrestlers vs WFI chief: Court summons Brij Bhushan over sexual harassment allegations on July 18
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, wrestling federation of India chief accused of alleged sexual harassment by several athletes has been summoned to Delhi's Rose Avenue court on July 18.
FollowBrij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, has been summoned to Delhi's Rose Avenue court on July 18 in response to allegations of sexual harassment made by several wrestlers. The court has found sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. On June 15, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan, who is also a six-time Member of Parliament, charging him with sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and stalking. The chargesheet came after multiple female wrestlers filed complaints, and the delay in taking action garnered international attention.
Additionally, another First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against Brij Bhushan based on allegations made by a minor wrestler, and it was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This complaint was one of the seven made by female grapplers accusing Singh of sexual harassment.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has vehemently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and released a defiant statement refuting the charges. If convicted, he could face up to three years of imprisonment. One of his aides stated that the lawmaker will continue to cooperate with the police and respect the court's decision.
The wrestlers, including Olympic and Asian Games medallists, initiated a sit-in protest against the WFI chief in January and staged a demonstration in April to highlight the lack of action taken. Police briefly detained them in New Delhi when they cleared the protest site the following month.
Images of the athletes being dragged away and carried off in buses spread rapidly on social media, drawing criticism from top athletes and opposition politicians. The wrestlers even threatened to throw their medals into the Ganges, India's holiest river, before agreeing to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and later Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
In response to mounting outrage, the wrestlers suspended their protest after Thakur promised that the investigation into Brij Bhushan would be concluded by June 15.
