WFI protests: Babita Phogat alleges oversight committee member 'snatched report from hand' before she could finish reading

Former India wrestler Babita Phogat has levelled serious allegations against a fellow oversight committee member.

SportsTak

• Tue • 25 Apr 2023

Former India wrestler Babita Phogat recently revealed that fellow oversight committee member Radhica Sreeman forcefully 'snatched the final report' on the sexual harassment allegations against the disgraced Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh before she could read it in full.

These allegations have been denied by Sreeman, who in turn claimed that Babita had, in fact, read the report 4-5 times before signing off on the same.

The BJP member who was included in the protests at the behest of the protesting wrestlers said that because she was a family member of some of the protestors, she should not read the report in full.

"I had read just a few pages of the final report and I had some objections but Radhica Sreeman came and snatched the report. She said since I belong to the same family (Phogat), that is holding the protest, I can't read the report. She was working on behalf of the chairman (Mary Kom) and told me that the chairman has taken a decision (on signing of the report)," Babita told PTI.

When contacted by PTI about the same, the former Sports administrator dismissed the charge as 'ridiculous'. "Why will I do that? What benefit I will accrue by doing something like that. In fact, she read the report 4-5 times and agreed to the findings. Each and every word that was written in the report was explained to her," Sreeman said.

"Whatever was written in the report is based on testimonies of all those who appeared in the hearing and everything is video recorded, it can't be tampered with. If at all I snatched the report from her why didn't she write that in her dissent note," he opined.

"This is a baseless charge. In fact on the eve of Holi, all the members sat and whatever was being drafted, based on the hearings, Babita was explained each and every word and she was satisfied."

Radhica also said that all members of the committee were requested to assemble at the SAI headquarters on April 4 for the signing of the report, but Babita did not turn up. "Even her phone was switched off that day. She said her baby was unwell so we asked her to come on April 5 and sign the report. Since everyone else had arrived on April 4, the chairman (Mary Kom) decided that members who are present can sign the report and Babita can do that later," explained Radhica.

The government formed the oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, to look into the allegations levelled by the wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia.

Others in the six-member panel included former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former shuttler Trupti Murgunde, Radhica and Rajesh Rajagopalan, ex-CEO, of Target Olympic Podium Scheme.

Meanwhile, the wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar to resume their protest and approach the Supreme Court, Vinesh said Babita is more worried about her political career than the cause of the wrestlers. When asked why she has not visited the protest site, like she did the last time in January, Babita said, "I was with the wrestlers and will remain with them. I am under no political pressure.