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Wrestlers' Protest: Delhi Police Registers 2 FIRs On Sexual Harassment Complaints Against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan

Of the two FIRs, one pertains to the allegations levelled by a minor complainant under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections and the other pertains to allegations by adult complainants.

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Wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar
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Delhi Police on Friday registered two FIRs on sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Seven women wrestlers have levelled sexual harassment allegations on Singh, who is also a Member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On the complaints received from female wrestlers, two FIRs have been registered in Connaught Place police station, a senior police officer said.

The first FIR pertains to allegations levelled by a minor which is registered under The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) concerning outraging modesty, said the officer.

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The second FIR has been registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints by adult complainants under relevant IPC sections pertaining to outraging of modesty, the officer said, adding that investigation into both the FIRs was being taken up in right earnest.

The FIRs come hours after Delhi Police informed the Supreme Court that it would register the FIRs against Singh. The FIRs come amid an ongoing protest by wrestlers —including top Indian wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia— at Delhi's Jantar Mantar that began on Sunday.

Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court also issued directions to the Delhi Police to assess the threat allegedly faced by a minor involved in the case and accordingly provide her security. 

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In January, when the issue was first raised, the protest was called off after the Sports Ministry set up a committee to investigate the matter. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at the time announced that a five-member oversight committee, headed by boxer MC Mary Kom, will look into allegations against Singh, a BJP leader and a muscleman with criminal history. 

(With PTI inputs)

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