Wrestlers' protest: Delhi Police filed two First Information Reports (FIR) against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan BJP Singh on Friday in connection to the complaint filed by seven female wrestlers over allegations of sexual harassement.
According to senior police official, the first FIR pertains to allegations levelled by a minor which has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) concerning outraging modesty. The second FIR has been registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints by adult complainants under relevant IPC sections pertaining to outraging of modesty, the officer said.
Here are the top 10 latest developments in the matter:
- The development came hours after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, told Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimhathat it will register an FIR by the end of the day. The bench also directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to make an assessment of the threat perception to the grapplers and provide adequate security to one of them who is a minor.
- Earlier, Delhi Police had informed the Supreme Court that it will register an FIR by the end of the day after complaints against the federation chief was received over allegations of sexual harassment.
- Supreme Court had directed that an affidavit be filed before the apex court on or before May 5, the next date of hearing, about the steps taken for the security of the minor girl.
- The bench also said its direction for providing security to the alleged minor victim shall not stand in the way of the Commissioner of Police to make independent assessment of the threat perception of the other complainants.
- The apex court bench is hearing a plea filed by seven women wrestlers on non-registration of an FIR on their sexual harassment allegations against Singh.
- After the top court's order, the wrestlers held a press conference where they expressed clarified that the protest would carry on till Singh is sent to jail. Wrestler Bajrang Punia further thanked all the atheletes who stood in solidarity of the protesters.
- Urging PM Modi to remove Brij Bhushan from all officials posts Punia added, "If he hold powerful positions then he may influence the investigation."
- Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today (April 28) came in full support of the ongoing wrestlers' protest, and said that the guilty must be brought to book, irrespective of their political affiliation.
- In January this year, top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya and Sakshi Malik, held a sit-in protest in Jantar Mantar, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed from the head office and Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded.
- Following the protest, in January, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formation of an 'oversight committee' to probe allegations levelled against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other coaches.
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