Delhi Police seeks cancellation of POCSO against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh, files chargesheet in wrestlers case
The Delhi Police on Thursday (June 15) filed a final report before a court in the national capital in the wrestlers vs Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief case. The report includes a chargesheet against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges levelled against him by female wrestlers, and a cancellation report in the minor's case against Singh.
The Delhi Police said no "corroborative evidence" was found in the claims made by the minor female grappler against Singh and recommended the cancellation of the FIR filed under the POCSO Act.
The court has put up the matter for further consideration on July 4.
What did the Delhi Police say?
A 550-page cancellation report was filed before the Patiala House Court for dropping the POCSO charges against the WFI chief."In the POCSO matter, after completion of investigation, we have submitted a police report under section 173 CrPC requesting for a cancellation of the case based upon statements of the complainant ie, the father of the victim and the victim herself," the Delhi Police report read.
Sexual harassment, assault charges against Singh
"In the FIR registered by the wrestlers, after completion of the investigation, we are filing a chargesheet for the offences under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) of the IPC against accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and for offences under sections 109 (punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and when no express provision is made for its punishment)/ 354/354A/506 (punishment of criminal intimidation) IPC against accused Vinod Tomar before the concerned court," the Delhi Police said in its report.
The POCSO case against Singh
On April 28, Delhi Police had registered two FIRs against Singh at the Connaught Place Police Station. This also included a case registered against him under the non-bailable POCSO Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl.
The WFI chief had defended himself saying that he would press for making changes in this law as it is being misused on a mass scale.
The wrestlers protest
The protest against Singh started again on April 23 when seven women wrestlers including a minor tried to file an FIR against Singh on April 21 for sexually harassing them since 2012.
The women wrestlers have alleged that on at least four occasions, the harassment took place at Singh's office on Asoka Road, New Delhi. The women have alleged that incidents of harassment continued even on the international tours.
The first protest was called off on January 23 after an Oversight Committee was set up to investigate the matter and it was to submit its findings within four weeks. However, as no action was taken against Singh, the wrestlers started protesting again.