WFI chief to face sexual harassment, no evidence in minor's case

Delhi Police on Thursday filed a chargesheet against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the offences of sexual harassment and stalking and also recommended the cancellation of a complaint filed by a minor wrestler against him. "In the POCSO matter, after the completion of the investigation, we have submitted a police report under section 173, CrPC, requesting for a cancellation of the case based upon the statements of the complainant i.e the father of the victim and the victim herself," a statement issued by Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa said.In another case against Singh lodged on the basis of a complaint from other wrestlers, a chargesheet has been filed for the offences under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The chargesheet has also been filed against Vinod Tomar, a suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), for the offences under sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. The chargesheet was filed before the Rouse Avenue court in the national capital. The case will be heard next by the court on July 4. 

On April 21, seven female wrestlers, one of whom was allegedly a minor, filed a police complaint against Mr Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct. The complaint was followed by a protest by the wrestlers in the national capital. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned more than 180 people and filed two FIRs against Singh. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had, in a meeting with Olympic medal-winning wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik last week, assured them that the charge sheet in the case would be filed by June 15. Following this assurance, the wrestlers paused their protest.