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By Arvind Ojha: The Delhi Commission for Women on Sunday sent a notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police and sought details of FIR registered in connection with sexual harassment allegations levelled by several women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Swati Maliwal, DCW chairperson, said that the panel has received a complaint regarding the same. “The complainant has informed the Commission that several women wrestlers including a minor have alleged that the accused person has indulged in the crime of sexual harassment against them during his tenure at the Wrestling Federation of India,” the notice read.
The complainant informed the Delhi women’s panel that a complaint in the matter was submitted at Connaught Place police station on April 21 but no action has been taken on the complaint.
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The complainant alleged that when she called the Station House Officer (SHO) to enquire about the status of her complaint on April 22, she was informed that no FIR had been filed and further action on the complainant would be taken after Monday (April 24).
“She has further stated that when she asked him (Connaught Place SHO) for assurance that the FIR shall be filed by Monday, he answered that he could not guarantee the same. Further, she has informed the Commission that instead of an FIR being filed in the matter, some of the complainants and their family members have started getting phone calls enquiring about the identities of the complainants from an IPS officer posted in Department of Sports, MYAS,” the notice read.
Citing the seriousness of the matter which concerns the security of women wrestlers, the Delhi Commission for women sought the following details from the police:
- Copy of FIR registered on the above-mentioned complaint
- Reasons for delay in registration of FIR along with details of action taken against the concerned officer responsible for the delay
- Details of the accused persons arrested in the matter
- Details of security provided to the complainants
- Names and details of the persons who have allegedly shared the information regarding the matter with officials from the Department of Sports along with action taken against them and the officer mentioned in the complaint who allegedly tried to ascertain the identities of the complainants
- Detailed action taken in the matter.
The Delhi Police has been asked to submit their response by 4 pm on Tuesday, April 25.
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Meanwhile, Delhi Police sources confirmed that seven complaints have been received from wrestlers.
“We are inquiring into the complaints filed by the wrestlers and an FIR will be registered accordingly based on the evidence received,” Delhi Police sources said.
WHAT IS THE CASE?
Several women wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. In January, several wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik staged a sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the matter.
The wrestlers had demanded the removal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from WFI chief post.
In the aftermath of a series of protests, the Sports Ministry had formed a five-member oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, on January 23. The committee submitted its report in the first week of April but the ministry is yet to make its findings public.
ALSO READ | Sports Ministry unhappy with wrestlers’ remarks on Mary Kom-led oversight committee
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