Vinesh Phogat, Other Wrestlers Move Supreme Court Seeking FIR Against WFI Chief
"7 girls including a minor gave a complaint at CP police station against Brij Bhushan Singh over sexual harassment."
Wrestler Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat at News Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Vinesh Phogat and seven other wrestlers on Monday, 24 April, moved the Supreme Court seeking registration of an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Singh.
This comes a day after several top Indian wrestlers resumed their protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday, 23 April, three months after they first came out with the allegations.
Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik also confirmed that a complaint of sexual harassment has been filed against Singh at the Connaught Place Police Station in Delhi, but an FIR is yet to be registered.
No Findings By Oversight Committee
Protesting wrestlers also expressed frustration that the findings of MC Mary Kom-led Oversight Committee's report has not been made public by the Sports Ministry.
"We want the report, which has recorded women wrestlers' statement, to be made public. It's a sensitive issue, one of the complainants is a minor girl," Malik said.
"We will eat here and sleep here, until we get justice. Nor one from the committee or the ministry respond to our problems. It has been three month now," wrestler Vinesh Phogat said.
Complaint Filed With DCW
A complaint has also been filed with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). Responding to it, DCW chief Swati Maliwal issued a notice on 23 April to Delhi Police saying, "Several women including a minor have alleged that the accused person has indulged in the crime of sexual harassment against them during his tenure at the helm of Wrestling Federation of India."
"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 the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS)," the notice issued by the DCW chief stated.
What's the Matter
In January this year, many renowned Indian wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, had accused Singh and WFI coaches of sexually harassing female grapplers.
They sat at a dharna at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, while also reaching out to Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for justice. After two meetings with wrestlers, Thakur had announced the formation of a new 'Oversight Committee' to look into complaints of wrestlers.
The formation of the Oversight Committee was announced by Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs on 24 January.
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