The Delhi Police has informed a court that it has recorded the statements of women wrestlers who accused Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
The police submitted a status report to the court, stating that the statements of all victims were recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court directed the police to provide copies of the status report to the complainants upon request. The case has been listed for further hearing on June 27.
The allegations of sexual harassment made against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Several women wrestlers, including a minor, have accused Singh of sexual exploitation. In response to these allegations, the wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding the arrest of Singh.
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The Delhi Police has taken up the case and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. The police have recorded the statements of the women wrestlers under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for the statements to be recorded before a magistrate. The police have filed two FIRs, one of which is under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to the reports by India Today, Meanwhile, Protests by wrestlers against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have sparked worries about India's Olympic and Asian Games prospects. Minister Nishit Pramanik assures that India's medal count will not decline, expressing confidence in wrestlers securing more medals. Prominent athletes such as Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat have called for Singh's arrest, alleging sexual harassment, including the exploitation of a minor. The ongoing controversy has impacted player training, with some wrestlers refusing to train at designated centers.
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(With PTI Inputs)
