NEW DELHI, July 11: In the first categorical indictment of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) outgoing president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP Member of Parliament, the Delhi Police charge-sheet states that based on the “investigation so far,” of the complaints by six top wrestlers, Singh was “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court took cognisance of the Delhi Police’s charge-sheet and has summoned Singh and his co-accused Vinod Tomar, an assistant trainer, to appear before it on July 18.
On June 15, the Delhi police had filed a 1,000-page charge-sheet against Singh and Tomar, which includes the testimonies of witnesses, victims and other concerned persons. The detailed summons order stated that, after hearing the submissions and carefully considering the police report along with its annexed documents, including the statements of the victims, the court took cognisance of the offences committed under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks) and 354D (stalking), 506 (para 1) (criminal intimidation) and 109 (abetment to offense) of the Indian Penal Code.
Several Olympic and World Championship medal-winning wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sangeeta Phogat, protested for months in New Delhi demanding the arrest of Singh for allegedly sexually harassing several women grapplers.
The police had only filed an FIR against the accused BJP MP after the intervention of the Supreme Court last month. Sensing a further delay in the investigation, the wrestlers had threatened to immerse their medals in the river Ganga. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur met the wrestlers and assured them his full support and protection, after which the protest was suspended.
Invoking Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman); 354 A (sexual harassment); and 354 D (stalking), the charge-sheet has also flagged that, in one case, Singh’s harassment was “repeated and continuing.” In two of the six cases, Singh has been booked under Sections 354, 354A and 354D, while four cases are under Sections 354 and 354A.
After summons were issued to Singh and Tomar, the Congress said the Narendra Modi government was facing a test from India’s daughters over its handling of the sexual harassment charges against its MP Singh.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a tweet, said going by law and ethics, a person accused of atrocities against women should be removed from his post and a fair investigation ordered. The accused should then be arrested and punished in a court of law, she said. “But in the BJP government, why is the one accused of atrocities against women players who brought laurels to the country protected and why is the matter being hushed up during investigation? Why is the entire government silent on this matter? Why is the accused still in the BJP and why has no action been taken?” Ms Vadra asked.
Questioning Modi’s ‘silence’ on the issue, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asked when would Singh be arrested. “Why is Prime Minister Modi silent on the issue of sexual harassment against women sportspersons?” “You and your government are facing a test Mr. Modi, not from the Opposition but from India’s daughters,” she added. If this government had any morality, then it would have given protection to the daughters and not to the accused,” Ms Shrinate said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
