WFI Chief Turns down Demand for his Resignation, Says will Cooperate with Police in Investigation

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Apr 29: Even as the Delhi police filed two FIRs against the Wrestlers Federation of India president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh on the basis of sexual harassment charges levelled by seven women wrestlers including a minor, the accused BJP Member of Parliament has refused to resign while promising to cooperate in investigations.

The country’s top wrestlers, who are on protest against the federation chief over sexual harassment charges, on Saturday questioned the government inquiry, saying details of the probe, including the name of an underage accuser, have been leaked.

“Who is leaking the details of the investigation?” the wrestlers, who have camped in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar – the designated spot for public protests in the capital, said. They also accused the police of misbehaving with them and not allowing mattresses and provisions meant for protesters.

Earlier, a day after the police filed two sexual harassment cases against him, including one with non-bailable charges, Singh, the influential chief of India’s wrestling body, said he would not step down. “I am totally innocent. Will cooperate with any inquiry… Their (protesters) demands are changing constantly. Resigning would mean accepting the charges. Resignation is not a big deal but not as a criminal, I am not a criminal,” Singh said at a news briefing. He claimed that it was a conspiracy framed against him and accused the Congress and a “big industrialist” to be behind the plot.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the protesting wrestlers, expressing her support for the demonstration and targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi also called on the protesting wrestlers to express her party’s solidarity with them.

The Delhi Police on Friday registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with sexual harassment allegations levelled by women wrestlers against the WFI chief. The first FIR involving allegations made by a minor has been registered under the tough Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which means if Mr Singh is arrested, he cannot get bail.

The FIRs were filed hours after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, told the Supreme Court that a case will be registered on Friday. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the wrestlers, had submitted an affidavit in a sealed cover which voiced apprehension about the safety of a minor girl, an alleged victim of sexual assault.

The country’s top wrestlers, who have been on a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi since Sunday demanding action against Mr Singh, welcomed “the first step towards victory” but said they will continue their agitation. They demanded that the BJP MP be removed from all the positions he holds.

Singh, facing serious allegations of sexual harassment by women athletes, said resigning from his post, as demanded by protesting wrestlers, wasn’t a big deal for him, but he won’t do it “as a criminal.”

“I have been facing abuses and allegations for months now. This hurts my family and supporters, but I want an impartial enquiry…They instigated people against me for four months and kept bringing new people to make accusations. I have always respected the government, they are the ones jumping the gun. They are saying I should be in jail,” he said, adding that his Lok Sabha membership is not because of “the largesse of Vinesh Phogat (one of the wrestlers leading the protest)” but because of the people who support him.

He further suggested a conspiracy by “one family” and “one akhada (wrestling arena)”. Accusing the Congress of trying to malign his reputation, he also claimed “one businessman” was part of the conspiracy.

Facing the toughest battle of his political and professional career, the wrestling body chief, who is also a BJP MP, today appeared defiant during a show of strength at his home turf. Garlanded and surrounded by supporters in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, Singh said he hasn’t yet received a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) against him. Singh also stressed that his party had nothing to do with the case, and it was his job to counter the allegations.

“I am happy with the judiciary’s decision. The Delhi Police will investigate the allegations, and I am ready to cooperate with them in every possible way. No one is bigger than the judiciary in this country. The order has come to file an FIR (first information report). The government had also said it had no objection to filing an FIR. I am not bigger than the Supreme Court. I welcome the order,” Singh told reporters.

BJP MLAs flocked to Singh’s residence in Gonda. Calling the allegations against him ‘baseless’, they said it was a conspiracy of the Congress and “some industrialists” against the ruling party.

“It’s a political conspiracy by the Congress to destroy the MP’s image, but they won’t be successful. The common people are with him (Brij Bhushan Singh), Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” the BJP MLAs said.

The wrestlers had earlier this year decided to keep political parties away from their protests, even asking CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat to step down from the stage while she was addressing the gathering, but have changed their stance now and are welcoming all parties who support them.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had formed the committee to look into the allegations against the WFI and its chief. The committee, which was told to give a report to the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, had submitted it on April 5. But the ministry has not yet made public the findings of the six-member committee.

Delhi DCP Pranav Tayal said two FIRs have been registered based on the complaints of female wrestlers. “Two FIRs have been registered in Connaught Place Police Station over the complaints by female wrestlers against WFI chief Brij Brijbhushan Sharan Singh,” DCP said.

The first FIR pertains to allegations levelled by a minor victim, registered under POCSO Act along with relevant IPC sections concerning outraging of modesty. The second FIR is registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints tendered by other, adult complainants under relevant sections pertaining to outraging of modesty, the DCP said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have given protection to the minor who is among the seven players who had filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment by Singh. Several wrestlers have resumed their agitation and sat on a dharna since April 23, demanding that an FIR be filed against the “Gonda strongman”. They also demand that Singh be removed from all posts he holds. The Congress has said that he should be arrested immediately.

Singh, a sixth-term lawmaker, said his tenure as the WFI chief is complete and he will automatically resign with the election of the new president. He is only playing the role of a “caretaker” till the election. Singh has completed 12 years as WFI chief and is ineligible to contest for another term.