Vartha Bharati: Delhi: Sunday, 11 August 2024.
An exclusive report by The
Quint has revealed through an RTI (Right to Information) inquiry that the
Sports Ministry has no records of the investigation report on the allegations
of sexual misconduct against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former BJP MP and
the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The probe into the allegations, which included accusations of sexual harassment, groping, and intimidation made by female wrestlers, was supposed to be overseen by an Oversight Committee led by M.C. Mary Kom. The committee was appointed by the government on 23 January 2023 to investigate the charges and manage the WFI's daily operations. Despite an extension of the submission deadline, the Ministry responded to an RTI query on 26 May, stating that the report is unavailable.
This investigation gained significant public attention, leading to an FIR being filed against Singh following the Supreme Court's intervention in May 2023. In June 2024, the Delhi Police submitted a 1,000-page charge sheet against Singh. On 10 May 2024, a Delhi court found sufficient evidence to charge Singh and WFI's suspended assistant secretary, Vinod Tomar, with sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five female wrestlers. Both have denied the charges and opted to stand trial.
Wrestler Bajrang Punia criticized the government for the delays and discrepancies in handling the case, questioning the seriousness of the efforts to investigate the allegations.
The probe into the allegations, which included accusations of sexual harassment, groping, and intimidation made by female wrestlers, was supposed to be overseen by an Oversight Committee led by M.C. Mary Kom. The committee was appointed by the government on 23 January 2023 to investigate the charges and manage the WFI's daily operations. Despite an extension of the submission deadline, the Ministry responded to an RTI query on 26 May, stating that the report is unavailable.
This investigation gained significant public attention, leading to an FIR being filed against Singh following the Supreme Court's intervention in May 2023. In June 2024, the Delhi Police submitted a 1,000-page charge sheet against Singh. On 10 May 2024, a Delhi court found sufficient evidence to charge Singh and WFI's suspended assistant secretary, Vinod Tomar, with sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five female wrestlers. Both have denied the charges and opted to stand trial.
Wrestler Bajrang Punia criticized the government for the delays and discrepancies in handling the case, questioning the seriousness of the efforts to investigate the allegations.
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