Wrestlers Protest: Delhi Police files status report in court, records statements of victims

The Delhi Police on Saturday filed a status report in the court on the application of protesting women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, appearing for Delhi Police, apprised Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjit Singh Jaspal of Rouse Avenue Court that the statements of the ‘victim’ women wrestlers have been recorded under Section 164 CrPC before the Magistrate .

ACMM Jaspal directed the police to give copies of both the status reports filed on May 12 and May 27 to the complainants. After this, the court fixed the date of June 27 for the next hearing of the case. On the other hand, Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Thursday sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the police on a petition by a social activist and chief of the Atal Jan Shakti Party in view of the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Singh by the protesting wrestlers. The petition sought registration of an FIR against wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik for leveling “false allegations” of sexual harassment against Singh.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Anamika of Patiala House Court passed the direction on a petition filed by Bam Bam Maharaj Nauhatia. The police had informed the court on May 12 that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the sexual harassment allegations against Singh.

Prominent wrestlers, who have won laurels in Olympics and World Championships, have been protesting against Singh at Jantar Mantar since April 23. Many groups of farmers have also extended their support to them and have reached Delhi from Haryana and Punjab to join the protest.