Victim wrestler taken to WFI office by police when accused Brij Bhushan present on same premises
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New Delhi: One of the woman wrestlers who accused Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment stated that when she was taken to the WFI office by the Delhi police, where the alleged sexual harassment took place, Brij Bhushan was present at his MP residence, which also serves as his office.
The alleged sexual harassment happened at the WFI office on Ashoka Road in New Delhi in 2019.
A report in The Indian Express suggested that the woman wrestler expressed fear upon discovering that Singh was present at his residence while she was at the WFI office. The police assured her that no one was at Singh's residence, but she later learned that he was indeed there.
Singh claimed that he was sleeping inside his room when questioned by the media. This situation made the complainant feel uncomfortable and scared since Singh is the accused in the case.
According to a Delhi Police source, the woman wrestler was accompanied by five police personnel, including two women, during her visit to the WFI office. Although the accused and the complainant did not come face-to-face, they were present on the same premises. Inside the WFI office, the woman wrestler was asked to recount the incident of harassment.
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to the woman wrestler on Thursday, but the measures taken to ensure her visit remained confidential were inadequate. However, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district), Pranav Tayal, declined to comment on the matter.
This development follows a meeting between Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, where the minister assured them that a chargesheet regarding Singh's alleged sexual harassment would be filed by June 15. As a result, the wrestlers temporarily suspended their protest against Singh's non-arrest.
In addition to this complaint, another woman wrestler accused Singh of sexual harassment on two separate occasions in 2017 at the WFI office. The Delhi Police registered two FIRs on April 28, which included allegations of sexual favours, sexual harassment, intimidation, and stalking involving six adult wrestlers and a minor.
The FIR revealed that Singh engaged in forceful physical contact, touching the palm, knee, thighs, and shoulders of the wrestlers. On one occasion, he placed his hand on a wrestler's breast and slid it down to her stomach while pretending to check her breathing.
The incidents allegedly occurred at the WFI office. In 2019, Singh also made forceful physical advances toward another woman wrestler, leaving her feeling uncomfortable and prompting her to flee the office.