Delhi Police to file case against WFI chief today: Reports
The Delhi Police reportedly informed the Supreme Court that it would register a case against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday amid the ongoing protest from wrestlers in Delhi. As per Mint, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that a First Information Report (FIR) would be filed in the matter.
Why does this story matter?
This major development comes after as many as seven women wrestlers filed a complaint against the wrestling federation president, accusing him of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. Prominent Indian wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, have all been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since Sunday, demanding Singh's arrest. However, the cops were yet to file an FIR in the case.
Here's what Delhi Police told SC
"We have decided to register an FIR. It will be registered today," Mehta informed the apex court. The SC bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha also asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to evaluate the threat perception and provide adequate security to one of the minor girls who is alleged to be a victim of the sexual assault.
Sports Minister's earlier visit that triggered controversy
Prior to this recent development, Olympic medalist and renowned wrestler Bajrang Punia disputed Sports Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur's claims that he spent nearly 12 hours with the agitating wrestlers to discuss the issue on Thursday. Speaking to ANI, the 29-year-old revealed that Thakur was with the wrestlers for two to four minutes only. "His officials were mediating with the players," added Punia.
Details on what Thakur said earlier
During a press conference on Thursday, Thakur had claimed, "A few wrestlers are sitting in protest at Jantar Mantar. I spent 12 hours with them — seven hours on the first day and five hours the next day." He further added, "I listened to all their grievances, held a press conference at 2-2.30 at night, and formed a committee after talking to them."
Here's why wrestlers resumed their protest on Sunday
When the protest initially erupted in January this year, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the central government assured the agitating wrestlers of an impartial investigation. The agitators called off their protest after the Wrestling Oversight Committee (WOC) was constituted to investigate the situation. However, since its findings are yet to be made public, the athletes once again resumed their protest on Sunday.
Know about Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
A six-term MP from Uttar Pradesh, Singh reportedly spent his youth in Ayodhya and entered politics during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in the 1980s. According to his 2019 poll affidavit, the 66-year-old was named in the Babri demolition case. It also mentioned four criminal cases, including one under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 307 (attempt to murder) and other serious crimes.
