New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday closed proceedings before it on plea filed by women wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges, noting that the Delhi Police has registered FIR in the case. It also noted that adequate security has been provided to the complainants.
A bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said, “The purpose of this petition was registeration of FIR which is now been met with. Apart from FIR, security was to be provided as per directions of this court.” It also noted that “proper security has been provided to [the] minor [complainant]”.
On 24 April, the wrestlers moved the top court—a day after they restarted their protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after January—seeking registration of an FIR against Singh. On 28 April, the Delhi Police had registered two FIRs based on sexual harassment complaints filed by seven wrestlers, including one minor.
Disposing the case, the court recorded in its order: “The petition has been instituted by three petitioners, all of whom have stated that they have represented India in reputed international wrestling events.”
The bench also refused to entertain a plea by the petitioners’ lawyer to appoint a former SC or a High Court judge for monitoring the investigation.
It, however, gave liberty to the petitioners to go to the jurisdictional magistrate or the Delhi High Court for redressal, if any, in future.
“Keeping in mind the ambit of these proceedings, we close the proceedings at this stage. If petitioners wish for something else, they can approach the magistrate or the HC in its jurisdiction,” read the order.
Before the court passed its order, Delhi Police counsel, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, informed the bench that security has been provided to the minor complainant, as per court’s direction.
Security cover too has been provided to the six complainants, even though assessment revealed that there was no threat perception, he added. But since the complainants were sitting on protest in a public place, security cover was given to the complainants, Mehta told the bench.
Court proceedings
During the proceedings, Mehta urged the bench not to monitor the police probe and asked it to repose confidence in the investigation undertaken by the Delhi Police.
“Trust the force. We are concerned with the complainants and it will have to be done independently & it’s being done by a very senior lady IPS officer,” he told the bench.
He objected to the petitioners’ allegations against Delhi Police that the latter were slow in initiating action on their complaint.
Mehta said: “There is something more than what meets the eye.”
Mehta also informed the bench that statements of complainants had been recorded by the police.
When the CJI tried to know if the complainants’ statement was recorded before the magistrate, Mehta said the process was on to get their statements recorded before the magistrate.
“It may not be proper for either the complainants or the court to decide the chronology or manner of investigation,” he added.
He even apprised the court about last night’s altercation at the protest site.
“Two political leaders of parties—I may not name them—went with a truck full of beds that was prevented to enter the protest. Police was also hurt,” he said.
A scuffle broke out between wrestlers and Delhi Police personnel at Jantar Mantar late Wednesday night, with the demonstrators alleging that the policemen attacked them after an argument over occupying vacant spots at the protest site.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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