The Delhi Police on Thursday filed a charge-sheet against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh in Delhi Patiala House Court. Regarding the POCSO case against him, a cancellation report was also filed by the police.
A cancellation report is filed in cases when no corroborative evidence is found. The court will hear the matter on July 4. In the POCSO matter, after completion of the investigation, we have submitted a police report under section 173 Cr PC requesting for a cancellation of the case based upon statements of the complainant, the father of the minor victim and the victim herself, said Delhi Police officials.
The charge-sheet has been filed under sections of IPC 354, 354 (D), 354 (A) and 506 (1), said special public prosecutor Atul Srivastava. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had assured the protesting wrestlers that the charge sheet would be filed within June 15, following which the grapplers decided to suspend their agitation.
The wrestlers had threatened to resume their protest if a charge-sheet is not filed by the specified period. Also a supplementary charge-sheet was submitted as the Delhi Police is awaiting the response from wrestling federations of five nations.
The police had written to these organisations seeking photos and video of the tournaments and the CCTV footage of the places where the wrestlers stayed during their matches. ACMM Deepak Kumar of Rouse Avenue Court will be noting the submissions and the matter is kept for consideration on June 22.
The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against him. As per the FIRs, Singh allegedly groped, sought sexual favours and asked inappropriate personal questions to female wrestlers.
Over 180 people have been questioned in connection with the allegations. The Special Investigation Team also went to BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh’s residence in Gonda to record the statements of the outgoing WFI chief’s relatives, colleagues, house staff and his associates.
Meanwhile, the WFI elections are slated to be held on July 4. This time, Brij Bhushan or his family members will not contest the federation elections despite eligibility, reported PTI.
The elections will be held for the post of president, senior vice-president, four vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer, two joint secretaries, and five executive members. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had assured the protesting wrestlers that neither Singh’s family members nor his associates will be allowed to contest the impending elections.
Singh’s son Karan Bhushan heads the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association while his son-in-law Aditya Pratap Singh is head of the Bihar unit. “They had a discussion and have decided that neither his son Karan nor his son-in-law Aditya will file nominations for WFI elections,” a source close to the Singh family said.
“In the current circumstances, it is not advisable to do something that further fuels the controversy,” said the source.
Both Karan and Aditya will, however, participate in the elections and exercise their voting rights.
