On day three of the wrestler’s protest against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 25, issued notice on the petition filed by top wrestlers, seeking that a first information report be filed against Bharatiya Janata Party strongman, member of parliament and Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over serious allegations of sexual harassment, including that of a minor.
Protesting wrestlers said on Sunday, April 23, that even though they had filed a police complaint at Connaught Place police station, with details of six women and one minor girl accusing Singh of sexual misconduct, no FIR had been filed yet. Cops have been repeatedly instructed by courts to act quickly in cases where the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act can be invoked.
Among those protesting are Olympics medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and Worlds medallists Vinesh Phogat and Deepak Punia.
Hearing Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the country’s leading wrestlers, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud noted that a remedy to approach the Police Superintendent is available under Section 156 of the Criminal Procedure Code, reported LiveLaw.
Noting that the wrestlers were staging a sit-in at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Sibal said, “Seven women have complained and one is a minor. The FIRs have not been registered. The law of this court has been violated.”
The court said, “There are serious allegations at the behest of professional wrestlers concerning sexual harassment. Issue notice returnable on Friday.”
The court also granted the petitioners the right to conceal their identities.
On April 23, Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s leading wrestlers tagged CJI Chandrachud on her Twitter note alleging a lack of action against Singh.
In January, the Union sports ministry had formed a committee in the aftermath of an unprecedented protest by the country’s most successful wrestlers. They alleged grave wrongdoings by the WFI and especially its chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Singh was asked to “step aside” by the Union sports ministry.However, the wrestlers who had earlier said that the committee was consulted without their inputs, said that its reports were not made public either, reported The Wire.
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