New Delhi: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday moved to the Delhi High Court seeking an FIR against top wrestlers who recently staged a protest against the WFI President, levelling serious charges of sexual harassment against him and coaches of the federation.
The plea alleged that the protestors/wrestlers have completely misused the sexual harassment laws by making them a mockery of justice. If any player has undergone sexual harassment, they must have acted in accordance with the law through police and courts etc.
Plea seeks direction for registration of FIR against players including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia etc for allegedly abusing the process of law by putting the WFI chief under extortion for making him resign.
The plea further alleged that protestor players have crossed their limits to tarnish the reputation and dignity of the Brij Bhushan by publicly making serious allegations of sexual harassment of women wrestlers.
Last week, top wrestlers, including Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and Sonam Malik among others, started a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar and demanded the sacking of the WFI chief. The wrestlers also demanded that the WFI be disbanded immediately and a new panel be formed, including grapplers.
The players called off their protest on Friday after getting assurances from the government that their grievances would be addressed and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was asked to step aside for four weeks.
During this period, an oversight committee will probe allegations of sexual harassment and financial impropriety against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The Sports Ministry has asked the WFI to suspend “all ongoing activities with immediate effect”, including the Ranking Tournament in Gonda, UP. The ministry has also suspended WFI’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.
(With Agency Inputs)