Wrestlers vs WFI: SC closes sexual harassment case against Brijbhushan, grapplers accept decision but protest to continue

The wrestlers protesting against the WFI said on Thursday that they accept the Supreme Court's decision to close the proceedings on the sexual harassment allegations against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.

While the grapplers accepted the top court's decision but they said that the protests will continue until the WFI chief is arrested for his alleged crimes.

"We respect the Supreme Court order, protest will continue, we have all options open, will decide future course of action after consulting seniors," the protesting wrestlers said.

SC tells wrestlers to approach lower courts

On 24 April, the wrestlers moved the top court—a day after they restarted their protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after January—seeking registration of an FIR against Singh. On 28 April, the Delhi Police had registered two FIRs based on sexual harassment complaints filed by seven wrestlers, including one minor.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud refused to entertain an oral plea by the counsel representing the wrestlers that the ongoing probe be monitored by a retired or a serving high court judge.

"You came here with specific prayers for registration of FIR and security for the complainants. Now both of your prayers have been addressed. If you have any further grievances, you can very well approach the high court or the jurisdictional magistrate," the bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, said, adding that it is closing the proceedings for now.

Disposing the case, the court recorded in its order: “The petition has been instituted by three petitioners, all of whom have stated that they have represented India in reputed international wrestling events.”

The bench also refused to entertain a plea by the petitioners’ lawyer to appoint a former SC or a High Court judge for monitoring the investigation.

It, however, gave liberty to the petitioners to go to the jurisdictional magistrate or the Delhi High Court for redressal, if any, in future.

“Keeping in mind the ambit of these proceedings, we close the proceedings at this stage. If petitioners wish for something else, they can approach the magistrate or the HC in its jurisdiction,” read the order.

Wrestlers vs WFI

Several wrestlers who have won awards at international competitions have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding that the government make public the findings of an oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment charges against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the BJP MP by seven women wrestlers.