Wrestlers’ Protest: Delhi Police Informs Court About SIT Formed To Probe Charges Against WFI Chief

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Friday informed a special court here about the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers against WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh.

The submission by Delhi Police was made before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal, while responding to the court's earlier order to file a status report.

Public prosecutor Atul Srivastava told the court, "Considering the seriousness of the case we have formed a SIT. The SIT will be investigating the case," and stated that a status report in the matter has been filed.

Considering the nature of the case, Srivastava requested that the report should not be shared with anyone.

The report has been filed in a sealed cover by the Delhi Police.

Following the submission, the court posted the matter for further hearing on May 27.

Delhi Police was issued a notice by the judge on a petition by the wrestlers seeking monitoring of the probe and recording of the statement of the alleged victims before the court.

The wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding the arrest of Singh for sexually exploiting several women grapplers, including a minor.

The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs, including one under section 10 of the POCSO Act against the WFI president and BJP MP, who has denied all the charges.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the National Human Rights Commission of India issued notices to a host of national sports federations, as well as the Union Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India, for failing to adhere to the requirements stated by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013.

According to the PoSH Act, sports bodies are required to have an Internal Complaints Committee but 16 out of 30 such bodies do not adhere to the mandate. Keeping this in mind, NHRC issued notices and published the fact on its website.

“(The NHRC) has issued notices to the (i) Secretary, Department of Sports, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, (ii) the Sports Authority of India, SAI (iii) the Board Of Control For Cricket In India, BCCI, (iv) Wrestling Federation of India, and all the 15 other National Sports Federations of Handball, Volleyball, Basketball, Weightlifting, Yachting, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Billiards & Snooker, Kayaking & Canoeing, Judo, Squash, Triathlon, Kabaddi, Badminton, Archery, mentioned in the news report, which either do not have even an ICC or properly functional ICCs as required in the law,” the statement published on the NHRC website read.

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