From left- Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Satyavrat Kadian
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The Delhi Police has sought cooperation from wrestling federations of three countries in the sexual harassment case against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Police has sent notices to the countries of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Indonesia asking them to provide CCTV footage and photos. Wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment during wrestling competitions held in these countries.
By sending notices to its other countries, footage has also been sought from other places. On the other hand, a victim woman wrestler has given statements that she was harassed so much for not fulfilling Brij Bhushan’s demands that she went into depression and contemplated suicide. A senior Delhi Police source told that in this case of sexual harassment, it will file a charge sheet in the court this week itself.
According to a senior Delhi Police source, the victim, an adult wrestler, has alleged that she was molested when she was participating in the 2022 Asian Championships in Mongolia. Another female wrestler was also molested in the year 2016 in Mongolia itself. In the registered FIR, the second female wrestler has alleged that she had won the gold medal in the Junior Asian Championship held in Kazakhstan.
After this she was sleeping in her room. Then a person came in the room and said that Brijbhushan is calling him. He thought that the WFI president was calling to congratulate him. Here the accused sexually assaulted her. After this, the accused continued to harass. Similarly, a third female wrestler has made allegations of molestation during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Had thought of suicide – the victim’s adult wrestler
The victim, a female wrestler who has won a major award, has alleged that in the year 2016, the accused invited her for dinner in Mongolia. It is alleged that here the accused hit his body at many places. This was followed by molestation in Karnataka in September, 2017. On protesting, a show cause notice was issued to him. After this he was harassed in various ways. He started getting scared. She had gone into such depression that she had thoughts of suicide. Only after this the committee of the Sports Ministry started the investigation.
Questions raised on the investigation of the Oversight Committee-
The women wrestlers, who lodged an FIR of sexual harassment with the Delhi Police, have raised questions on the investigation by the Sports Ministry’s over-site committee in both the FIRs. The aggrieved wrestlers have said that their statements were recorded on camera before the over site committee. During the statements, it was observed that the camera was being switched off and on repeatedly. He suspects that his complete statement has not been recorded in front of the camera.