Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) suspended president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has finally opened up in relation to the allegations against him by seven different female wrestlers — including a minor. He spoke to PTI in a video and said that the day he feels helpless is the day he will want to die.
"Friends, the day I introspect on what I gained or lost, and feel that I no longer have the strength to fight; the day I feel helpless, I would wish death as I won't be living a life like that. Instead of living such a life, I would wish that death takes me in its embrace," he said in a video as the Delhi Police accepted the need to file an FIR against him as calls for his arrest and removal from the federation continue to ring high at the Jantar Mantar.
However, the protesting wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games medal-winning grapplers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, among others, have confirmed that they will not leave the protest site until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested.
Meanwhile, The Delhi Police have informed the Supreme Court on Friday, April 28, that they will finally register an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as requested by the wrestlers alleging sexual harassment.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta made the submission before a bench comprising the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud as well as Justice PS Narasimha.
The court has adjourned the case for further hearing until next week in order to consider the threat perception to one of the survivors who is a minor. This comes after the protests against the WFI and the former president, the sidelined Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, took a turn for the worse when Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia revealed that there have been threats against the lives of seven women who complained of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan.
Punia made these claims during a press conference on Tuesday, April 25, saying that representatives of the WFI made these threats and are offering money to the female wrestlers, forcing them to withdraw their complaints against the former WFI chief.
Speaking to the press at the Jantar Mantar where the top Indian international wrestlers are protesting against the governing body of the sport and their current chief, Bajrang said that attempts were being made to break the unity of the seven women who have complained of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
"Attempts being made to break the unity of 7 women wrestlers complainants. There is a threat to the lives of complainants. WFI representatives are reaching their homes and offering money. If something happens to these complainants, Delhi Police and the government will be responsible for it," he said.
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