Chargesheet filed against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by Delhi Police

• Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in an alleged sexual harassment case
• The court fixed July 4, 2023 as the next date for hearing the case
• Several female wrestlers came forward earlier in the year in the alleged sexual harassment of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

The intervention of Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the Delhi Police on Thursday filed a charge sheet against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in an alleged sexual harassment case involving seven wrestlers and two minors.

The charge sheet was filed in Delhi's Patiala House Court, but the Delhi Police also submitted a quashing report in the case of minors as no corroborating evidence was found. This means that no POCSO case will be initiated against the WFI chief.

The court fixed July 4, 2023 as the next date for hearing the case. Olympians Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, along with other wrestlers, have been protesting against the WFI chief since January, but the Delhi Police needed Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's intervention to make progress in the case.

Several female wrestlers came forward earlier in the year in the alleged sexual harassment of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. However, the Connaught Place police station registered two FIRs only after the Supreme Court's order following a weeks-long protest by wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. The wrestlers demanded sacking and arrest of the WFI chief by the Delhi Police besides conducting fresh elections to the national federation without any interference from the family members of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Protesting wrestlers were arrested on 28 May by the Delhi Police for trying to enter the new parliament building to protest against the WFI chief there despite the imposition of Section 144 in the area. Delhi Police also filed an FIR under IPC Sections 147, 149, 186, 188, 332, 353, Section 3 of PDPP Act against the wrestlers before clearing the protest site.

The wrestlers had a six-hour meeting with Anurag Thakur and the sports minister assured them that their demands would be met. Thakur assured that the Delhi Police will complete its investigation and file a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan by June 15. After the meeting, Punia told the media that the wrestlers would protest until charges were filed.