Published on: 12 July 2023 at 12:59 IST
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the suspended chief of India’s Wrestling Federation, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment, has refused to resign despite the chargesheet filed against him by the Delhi Police. When questioned by Times Now, Singh not only declined to step down but also behaved inappropriately with the reporter, slamming a car door on the microphone.
The Delhi Police has reportedly filed a chargesheet of 1000 pages against Singh after conducting a detailed investigation that involved questioning over 100 individuals. Fifteen of those questioned provided testimony supporting the claims of the seven wrestlers who accused Singh of sexual harassment, including friends and family members of the wrestlers.
Singh has been charged with sexual harassment, stalking, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation. Additionally, a second FIR has been filed against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, based on allegations by a minor wrestler.
The POCSO case is currently under scrutiny, as the Delhi Police has requested its cancellation due to a lack of evidence. The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has summoned Singh for a hearing on July 18. Police sources have stated that the evidence is sufficient to proceed with a trial and punish the accused.
When asked about the charges against him, Singh stated that he would address the matter in court and refused to provide any sensationalized information to the media. Previously, he had denied all allegations and mentioned that he would only step down if Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested him to do so.
The wrestlers, including several national and international medalists, had staged a protest earlier this year, demanding action against Singh. In April, they conducted a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, which resulted in clashes with the Delhi Police, leading to the wrestlers being removed from the site. The visuals of Olympians being pinned to the ground and dragged away by the police had sparked shock and outrage nationwide. Subsequently, the government intervened and requested the wrestlers to await the completion of the police investigation.