Won't leave until there's an arrest: Wrestlers protest against Brij Bhushan again

Top Indian wrestlers have returned to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to continue their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accusing him of sexual misconduct.

"Seven women wrestlers, including a minor, have filed a sexual harassment complaint against federation chief Brij Bhushan Singh at the Connaught Place police station in Central Delhi. An FIR based on the complaint is yet to be filed," claimed wrestler Sakshi Malik.

"We have been waiting for nearly three months now. We hoped that the government will support us. But we didn't get any support from the government. We do not even know whether the oversight committee report has been submitted or not. Now, people started thinking that we lied before and our complaint was false, we can't take it as is a question of women's honour," she added.

"The federation is organising national level events, office is running then where are players being heard? Seven women wrestlers have filed complaint, why we aren't filing FIR? We will not leave this place, till the time an arrest is made," said Bajrang Punia.

DCW issues notice to Delhi Police

Chief of Delhi Commission for Women Swati Maliwal hit out at the Delhi Police for failing to register FIR in the matter of sexual harassment case of women wrestlers.

"The complainant has informed the commission that several women wrestlers including a minor have alleged that the accused person has indulged in the crime of sexual harassment against them during his tenure at the Wrestling Federation of India, " Swati wrote in her letter issued to the Delhi police.

"The complainant has also informed the commission that a complaint in this regard was submitted by them at PS Connaught Place on 21.04.2023. She has further informed that no action has been taken by the SHO, Connaught Place on the complaint. She has also stated that...she was informed by him that no FIR has been filed and that action shall be taken on the complaint post Monday," she said.

"She (the complainant) has further stated that when she asked him (SHO) for assurance that the FIR shall be filed by Monday, he answered that he could not guarantee the same," she added.

Wrestlers protest against Brij Bhushan

In January, women wrestlers of WFI (Wrestlers Federation of India) staged protest, accusing president Brij Bhushan Sharma of sexual harassment. However, Sharma straightaway denied all accusations, saying he never did anything wrong.

Top Indian wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshi Malik, were part of the sit-in protest, demanding Brij Bhushan's suspension as the head office and Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded.

Taking note of this, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports formed the formation of an 'oversight committee' to probe allegations levelled by the protesters. However, the protesters claim that nothing was done so far to resolve their issues.