'Slipped Hands Under Clothes, Threatened Us': FIRs Against WFI Chief Reveal Details Of Sexual Harassment

During international events, when wrestlers would put up in various hotels, they would travel in groups to avoid being caught alone by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleged the protesting wrestlers in an FIR against Bhushan, filed on April 28 at the Connaught Place Police Station. The two FIRs against Bhushan, for sexually harassing women wrestlers, were registered after the intervention of the Supreme Court two days prior. 

Singh has been booked under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 34 (common intention). He has also been booked under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Along with him, WFI secretary Vinod Tomar has also been named in the police FIR.

Several complainants, including international wrestling champions Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat have accused Bhushan of touching them inappropriately in the pretext of checking their beaths. Further, following their January protest at the Jantar Mantar, their statements under the Committee formed to investigate the matter, may not have been appropriately recorded to favour the accused. 

"During my deposition, I observed that the device on which the recording was being done was being switched on and off again. I am apprehensive that my entire statement/deposition may not have been recorded or may have been tampered with in favour view to favour the accused," according to one of the complainant's statements in the FIR. 

In the POCSO case, the minor's father stated that at the time of the harassment, the minor was 16 years old. The father accused Bhushan of forcefully pulling her daughter towards him, on the pretext of taking a picture, and then brushing his hands inappropriately against her chest. 

The wrestlers, who are currently in their villages in Haryana, have given a five-day ultimatum to the government threatening them to immerse their medals in Ganga, Haridwar. 

Following clashes between the police and the protesting wrestler on May 28, the protesting site at Jantar Mantar has been cleared. The wrestlers have been protesting since January and resumed their protest on April 23. 

Meanwhile, statements have been issued by Union World Wrestling and the International Olympic Committee condemning the treatment meted out towards the wrestlers.