“They have been continuously changing their statements. If you listen to their old statements, you will know that they wanted me to resign from my post as the WFI chief in January. At that time, I said that resignation meant accepting the charges levelled against me. My tenure has almost come to an end. In 45 days, there will be an election, and my term will end. Resignation is not a big deal, but I will not resign as a criminal… There has been a conspiracy against me by “one family” and “one akhada”... I am innocent,” said Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India chief.
Jagmati Sangwan, Bhim Awardee and a former volleyball player speaks to The Probe’s Pavitra Utgikar.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been in the thick of controversy since January this year when Olympians and international wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik and several others protested against him, accusing him of sexual harassment of female wrestlers. The wrestlers disbanded their protests for a brief period but soon resumed them in April after the government failed to act on their complaint.
Last year, he was seen confessing to a digital news portal that he had murdered a person who had shot dead one of his close friends. His controversial background and the fact that he is a sitting BJP MP and the President of the Wrestling Federation of India makes him wield a strong influence amongst the people that matter in political and sporting circles.
After much dilly-dallying, the Delhi police finally registered two FIRs against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday night. This after the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, ordered the Delhi Police to register an FIR in the matter based on the complaints lodged by the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar. Following the court’s orders, the police registered the first FIR under the POCSO Act along with relevant sections of the IPC based on the allegations of the minor. According to DCP Pranav Tanyal, the second FIR was registered for carrying out a comprehensive investigation based on the complaints given by the other complainants about outraging the women’s modesty.
The protesters have been vocal about inaction from the Delhi Police. On Friday, in a late-night video message, Bajrang Punia complained that the Delhi Police disconnected the electricity and water supply at the protest site in Jantar Mantar. Punia said that the police had erected barricades and prevented the protesters' food and water access. Punia is the only Indian wrestler to win four medals at the World Wrestling Championships.
The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs on January 23 had appointed a six-member Oversight Committee headed by Olympic medalist MC Mary Kom to probe the allegations against the WFI chief. According to a media report, one of the members of the Oversight Committee had raised objections to the manner in which the report was compiled and is believed to have signed the final report with objections.
The Oversight Committee has submitted its report to the sports ministry. The Delhi Police has also been issued a copy of the Committee’s report. Reports indicate that the Committee has not reached any conclusion regarding the allegations levelled against the WFI chief.
The wrestlers sitting in protest have told The Probe that they fear for their lives as the man in question is too powerful. “This man is mighty. If the police don’t act against him, we will not be in a position to even stop our protests because all our lives are in danger. He is a powerful man, and he can harm us,” stated wrestler Sangeeta Phogat.