On Thursday (June 15), the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Singh, the Chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, on charges of sexual harassment and stalking. This action followed investigations into complaints made by six wrestlers.
However, the police recommended cancelling a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, based on allegations made by a minor sportsperson, citing a lack of corroborative evidence.
The chargesheet against Singh, who is also a BJP MP, was filed on the agreed deadline set by the government in response to the demands of protesting wrestlers. The wrestlers had threatened to resume their agitation if the agreement was not honoured.
Two FIRs were filed by the Delhi Police on April 28, one based on complaints from six wrestlers and another filed by the father of a minor wrestler.
However, it is reported that both the minor and her father later retracted their allegations before a magistrate.
The chargesheet against Singh, filed by the Delhi Police, includes sections 354 (outraging the modesty of women), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Vinod Tomar, an office bearer of the Wrestling Federation of India and considered close to Singh, was also named in the chargesheet under sections 354, 354A, 506 (criminal intimidation), and 109 (abetment).
Regarding the POCSO case, the police completed their investigation and submitted a police report under section 173 CrPC, requesting the cancellation of the case based on statements from the complainant (the victim's father) and the victim herself.
The court has scheduled July 4 to review the final report on the POCSO case.
The protesting wrestlers received support from various opposition parties, student groups, youth organizations, women's groups, and farmers, particularly from the Jat community.
After a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a subsequent detailed meeting with Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur earlier this month, the protesters were promised action.
However, it was a setback for the wrestlers when the minor and her father reportedly retracted their statements, stating that the complaint was filed in anger due to perceived discrimination against the daughter.
