The Delhi Police on Friday registered two FIRs against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, with one of the cases filed under the POCSO Act.
According to a police statement, two FIRs have been lodged at the Connaught Place police station on the basis of complaints received from female wrestlers.
“The first one pertains to allegations levelled by a minor victim which is registered under the POCSO Act along with relevant IPC sections concerning outraging of modesty etc. The second FIR is registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints tendered by other, adult complainants under relevant sections pertaining to outraging of modesty etc," the statement added.
This comes after solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court earlier in the day that the Delhi Police will file an FIR against Singh amid renewed protests by the country’s top wrestlers. The top court asked the police officers to carry out a threat assessment and provide security to the minor wrestler. The matter will be heard again on May 5.
“If FIR is not registered, the remedy is 156(3). When we saw there is cognizable offence, we said let FIR be registered. We feel something else is playing out here and I cannot say more because this is a sensitive matter," Mehta, appearing on behalf of Delhi police, said.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by the protesting wrestlers against the alleged sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan Singh.
Decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against the WFI president. The protesters had moved the top court for an urgent hearing into their request seeking a case against Singh.
The Supreme Court had earlier sought a response from Delhi Police after the wrestlers’ alleged that no case was registered on their charges. “There are serious allegations made in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India in international games about sexual harassment meted out to them. The matter requires consideration by this court," said a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
The Indian Olympic Association is yet to complete its probe into the allegations, while the government-formed oversight panel’s findings have not been made public as yet.
