New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Delhi Police pertaining to the sexual misconduct complaints filed by seven wrestlers seeking a first information report against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual misconduct.
The top court also ordered the redaction of the names of the seven complainant wrestlers from judicial records to suppress their identities. The court will now hear the matter on Friday.
On Monday, protesting wrestlers had moved a plea in the apex court for an FIR against Singh, after they complained that the police were taking their own time.
Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat and seven others urged the top court to issue directions to the Delhi Police to lodge an FIR against Singh as there already had been an inordinate delay in doing so, they said.
In January, the wrestlers accused the WFI president of sexual harassment and intimidation, following which an oversight committee was formed – headed by boxer Mary Kom.
A senior Delhi police officer had said Monday that they sought a report from this probe committee in order to start the investigation.
“Seven players had filed a complaint against the WFI chief. Many facts will come to the fore after getting the report of the committee,” the officer said.
It was also announced Monday that the committee had submitted its report to the Sports Ministry. Committee member Yogeshwar Dutt said the panel had no right to declare anyone guilty or innocent.
Having overshot the submission deadline, the announcement came at a time when top wrestlers hit the footpath at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar again, having withdrawn their first protest in January on the government’s assurance.
The committee that was formed to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against Singh constituted Olympic medallist Mary Kom, former archer Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, London Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, Indian Weightlifting Federation President Sahdev Yadav and two advocates.