Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a member of parliament for the BJP, asked a female wrestler who had won medals for sexual favours by promising to buy her “supplements” for nourishment. He summoned her to his room on the day she won a gold medal in a major competition, forced her to sit on his bed against her will, and “forcefully” hugged her. He continued his “continuous acts of sexual harassment and repeated indecent advances” over a period of years, leaving her “deeply disturbed and scared.”
The Indian Express has learned that these are the main accusations contained in a formal complaint that one of the seven wrestlers in protest submitted with the Connaught Place police station in New Delhi on April 21.
What are the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?
In order to safeguard her identity, her name has been omitted. She is Wrestler 3 since The Indian Express reported on two further complaints made by Wrestlers 1 and 2 on May 7. At least eight instances of sexual harassment and misbehaviour, including groping, improper touching, and physical contact, were reported by them.
These occurrences occurred during competitions, during warm-ups, and even in the WFI office.
When the Government requested the protesting wrestlers to “trust” the Delhi Police probe, the three allegations that have now come to light become significant when considered collectively. The wrestlers had originally planned to throw their medals into the Ganga in Haridwar on Tuesday to show their displeasure with the lack of action taken in response to their complaints.
Wrestler 3 claims in her complaint that she was “traumatised” while telling a senior wrestler about Singh’s “forcible hug” on the night of her gold medal victory, but nothing came of it. She told her mother about Singh’s advances as well. Wrestler 3 claimed that Singh called her mother repeatedly in an attempt to get through to her despite being aware of her resolute “resistance.” She was required to change her private mobile number.
After winning the gold medal, Wrestler 3 was in her room relaxing when a physiotherapist informed her that the WFI president wanted her to meet him in his room. She then complains about the forced hug. She chose to go because she thought Singh wanted to congratulate her. Singh called her to his bed and unexpectedly hugged her without asking after putting her on the phone with her parents. Wrestler 3 reported that she began to cry.
Singh is then accused of calling the wrestler through her mother’s phone and beginning to stalk her over the phone. Wrestler 3 said that during one of these calls, he promised to buy her “supplements” if she consented to his attempts towards her sexually.
Woman Wrestler was adversely affected
Wrestler 3 was adversely affected by these instances of sexual harassment and stalking, according to her complaint, and it has taken her “years” to recover. This has made it difficult for her to concentrate during practise and competitions. According to what is known about her complaint, she avoided going to places where Singh was likely to be since every time she saw him, she was reminded of what she had gone through.
Wrestler 3 also claimed in her complaint that Singh “continues” to approach other female wrestlers and make sexually suggestive comments. Singh and other female wrestlers were motivated to complain by Singh’s unrestrained attitude.
Singh has repeatedly refuted the accusations, referring to them as a political plot. According to a statement Singh made on Wednesday, “Even if a single accusation is proven to be true against me, I will hang myself.” On Thursday, no one could reach Singh.
On April 21, complaints against Singh were made by seven female wrestlers, among them a juvenile. After the wrestlers went to the Supreme Court, two FIRs were filed, one of which was under the POCSO Act.
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