NEW DELHI: The head of the Indian wrestling federation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, is accused of groping female athletes while pretending to check their breath, touching them inappropriately, asking inappropriate personal questions of them and demanding sexual favours in exchange for the federation paying for the cost of treating injuries they sustained during competitions. In addition, he is charged with following a juvenile, offering an "unknown edible not approved by the dietician or coach," and rubbing his hands over her breast. Both FIRs, one based on the allegations of six wrestlers and the other on the accusation of a minor's father—were submitted on April 28. On April 21, the written complaints were delivered.
All charges of sexual misbehaviour against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have been refuted. He once more denied all accusations in a furious statement that he released on Wednesday.
"If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court, and I am ready to accept any punishment," he said.
He was accused of sexual harassment and intimidation in the "most inappropriate and atrocious manner" by the wrestlers, who have been calling for the dismissal of the federation chief and reform of the wrestling organisation. The equipment that was utilised to record the video of the complainants' depositions, according to some of them, was repeatedly turned on and off. One of them has stated that it's possible the complete statement wasn't captured or that it was altered to favour the accused.
According to one of the complainants, Brij Bhushan Singh picked out athletes from their groups and asked them inappropriate personal questions that they felt awkward responding to. In order to avoid running into the accused alone, she said, all the female athletes travelled in groups whenever they left their rooms.
"I was called by the accused who pulled up my T-shirt, slid his hand down my stomach, and put his hand on my navel on the pretext of checking my breath," one of the complainants said. She further asserted that the BJP MP had offered her an "unknown edible" that had not been cleared by her dietitian or coach but which he had suggested would be beneficial to her performance and health.
Another complainant said that Mr. Singh told her the federation would pay for her medical care if she gave in to his advances in the wake of an injury she sustained while competing abroad.
Similar patterns of unwanted touching and molestation have been detailed by each of the complainants.
One of the wrestlers claims that Mr. Singh attempted to buy her favour by offering to buy her the vitamins that an athlete could need in exchange for sex. She added that when he forced her to call her parents, Mr. Singh gave her a hard hug.
One of the wrestlers has also claimed that the wrestling federation's secretary, Vinod Tomar, groped her inside his Delhi office.
"On my visit to the federation office... I was called into the room of the accused (Mr. Tomar) ... my brother, who was accompanying me, was categorically asked to stay back...The accused (Mr Tomar), upon the departure of other persons, closed the door... pulled me towards himself and tried making forceful physical contact with me," the complainant has said.
Both FIRs make reference to IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force on a woman with the purpose to insult her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), and 34 (common intention), which each carry a one to a three-year prison sentence.
The POCSO's Section 10—which carries a five- to seven-year prison sentence—is also invoked in the FIR based on the father of a minor's accusation.
The father said Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, "on the pretext of taking a picture with my daughter, forcefully pulled her towards himself and held her so tightly by her arms that she could not move or free herself from his grip."
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