Delhi Police receives SC notice on wrestlers’ plea against wrestling federation president

In response to the wrestlers’ request for an expedited hearing on the petition seeking the registration of a FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday served notice to the Delhi Police.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud gave Delhi Police notice and requested that it respond to the wrestlers’ contention on Friday. The plea filed by wrestlers who have represented India in international competition contains a significant charge, the court observed.

The court ordered that the complaints that were submitted under sealed covers be resealed and inserted under the petition. The court also made it clear that, for the purposes of this petition, the identity of the petitioners would be redacted.

When Senior Attorney Kapil Sibal brought up the wrestlers’ request for an immediate hearing on a petition calling for the filing of a FIR against WFI president Brij Bhushan, the court gave the order.

Sibal informed the SC that these are female wrestlers, one of them is a minor and a gold medalist. A committee report that hasn’t been made public was mentioned by Sibal before the SC. Sibal informed the SC that no FIR has been filed and claimed that even police officers might face legal action for failing to file a FIR for an infraction of this magnitude.

Vinesh Phogat and the other seven wrestlers have urged the top court to issue directions to Delhi police to lodge FIR against Brij Bhushan as there is an inordinate delay in doing so.

WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was accused by the wrestlers of sexual misconduct and intimidation. The government established a five-member oversight council to oversee WFI operations. Boxer Mary Kom is heading the oversight committee which was formed to probe into the allegations levelled against the WFI and its chief Singh and other coaches.

Yesterday, Delhi Police sought a report from the investigation committee set up by the Union Sports Ministry to investigate the allegations and has begun a probe into the fresh complaint by wrestlers.

After a protest led by some prominent wrestlers of the country this January, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formation of an ‘oversight committee’ to probe allegations levelled against the WFI and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other coaches. The committee was tasked with submitting a report on the issue to the ministry.

Top wrestlers have now resumed their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital after filing a complaint at the Connaught Place police station on Friday, April 21 stating that seven female wrestlers, including one minor were harassed and exploited by Brij Bhushan in his capacity as WFI chief.

Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) has issued a notice to Delhi Police to register an FIR on the issue. Top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshi Malik, held a sit-in protest in Jantar Mantar in January this year, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed from the head office and the Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded.
They had accused the WFI body and its chief of sexual harassment and mistreatment of wrestlers.