New Delhi – The Supreme Court was previously informed by the Delhi Police that a preliminary investigation was required before a FIR could be lodged against Brij Bhushan.
In light of the ongoing protests by the nation’s top wrestlers, the Delhi Police told the Supreme Court on Friday that it would file a FIR against wrestling body president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh. The top court was hearing a case filed by the top women wrestlers alleging Brij Bhushan had sexually assaulted them when the Delhi Police informed the Apex Court about the FIR. Before they could file a FIR against the accused, the Delhi Police informed the Supreme Court on April 26 that they required to conduct a preliminary investigation into the claims. Neeraj Chopra and Kapil Dev demand “justice” for the wrestlers who are protesting, saying it “hurts me to see our athletes on the streets”
After petitioners submitted evidence alleging danger to a minor complainant’s safety, the court then ordered the Commissioner of Police to evaluate the complainant’s perception of a threat. Additionally, the court left it open for the CP, Delhi to evaluate whether six other wrestlers who made allegations against Singh to the police on April 21 posed a threat. Read | Mamata Banerjee criticises the BJP in her article, “Must support…”
According to Kapil Sibal, who is representing the petitioner, “We were concerned on two grounds – security and safety and the second is there are 40 cases against him.”
In the past four months, Brij Bhushan Singh has been accused of sexual harassment twice. The wrestlers staged a demonstration in January of this year that came to an end after the government agreed to investigate into the accusations made against Brij Bhushan. The wrestlers said that none of the pledges had been kept when they returned to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in April to seek Brij Bhushan’s punishment. ‘Abhi kya ho gaya?’: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat questions elite cricketers’ silence
Brij Bhushan Singh, a member of parliament from Kaiserganj, stood his ground and refuted all of the accusations. He declared in a video, “Friends, the day I reflect on what I achieved or lost, feel that I no longer have the strength to battle; the day I feel impotent, I would want death as I won’t be living a life like that. I would rather to die and be embraced by death than live such a life.
Wrstlers’ protest: Disparate sportspeople
It’s not only government versus the wrestlers in this fight against Brij Bhushan as athlete and Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha on Thursday picked a bone with the protesters and said they should have shown some discipline before taking to the streets. The silence of the cricketers and other sportspersons was also questioned by the protesters after which Kapil Dev, Irfan Pathan and Neeraj Chopra came in support of the protesters.
