The allegations put forth in the First Information Reports (FIRs), filed by seven women wrestlers at Delhi’s Connaught Place police station last month, claim that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the BJP MP and the Wrestling Federation of India chief, engaged in inappropriate and atrocious behavior towards female athletes. The FIRs narrate at least 15 incidents of sexual harassment.
It is alleged that he touched the women wrestlers inappropriately while pretending to check their breath, groped them, asked intrusive personal questions, demanded sexual favors in exchange for the federation covering the cost of their injury treatments during tournaments, offered “unknown edible not approved by the dietician or coach”, and even brushed his hands across the breast of a minor while stalking her.
These form the key allegations in two FIRs filed with the Delhi Police against Singh. The two FIRs — one combining complaints of six wrestlers, and a separate one based on the complaint of a minor’s father — were filed on April 28, while the written complaints were submitted on April 21.
Both the FIRs cite IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 34 (common intention) that carry a jail term of one to three years. The second FIR also invokes Section 10 of the POCSO Act which entails five to seven years of imprisonment.
The incidents mentioned took place in India and overseas from 2012 to 2022.
According to the complaint filed by the father of the minor, it is alleged that his daughter has been deeply affected by the incident and is unable to find peace anymore. The complaint states that the accused subjected her to sexual harassment, and the impact of this traumatic experience continues to haunt her.
“Holding her tightly, pretending to get a picture clicked, the accused (Singh) squeezed her towards himself, pressed hard on her shoulder and then deliberately…brushed his hands against her breasts,” read the complaint by the minor’s father.
It went on to say: “She clearly told the accused (Singh) she had already told him that she was not interested in having any sort of physical relationship and that he should stop stalking her…”
The complaint by six adult wrestlers alleges a series of Singh’s atrocious behavior.
“One day while I was out for dinner in the hotel restaurant, the accused (Singh) called me separately to his dinner table…to my utter shock and surprise and without my consent, placed his hand on my breast and groped me and then slid his hand down to my stomach. To my disbelief, the accused (Singh) did not stop there and again moved his hand upwards to my breast. He groped my breast and then slid down his hand to my stomach and then back to my breast repeatedly for 3-4 times,” a wrestler said, according to FIR.
Another wrestler said: “While I was lying down on the mat, the accused (Singh) came near me and to my shock and surprise leaned in and, in the absence of my coach, without seeking my permission pulled up my T-shirt, placed his hand on my breast and slid it down my stomach on the pretext of examining/checking my breathing.”
The third complainant said: “To further fulfil his sexual intentions, he also tried to bribe me by offering to buy me supplements which I may require as an athlete in exchange for sexual favours.”
“I was called by the accused (Singh) who pulled up my T-shirt and slid his hand down my stomach and put his hand on my navel on the pretext of checking my breath,” read the fourth wrestler’s compliant.
The fifth complainant said: “While I was standing in the last row (for team photograph)… the accused (Singh) came and stood alongside me. I suddenly felt a hand on my buttock. I was stunned by the actions of the accused (Singh) while they were highly indecent and objectionable and without my consent… when I tried moving away, I was forcibly held by my shoulder.”
The wrestler 6 said: “On the pretext of getting a picture clicked with me, he pulled me towards him by my shoulder… to protect myself, I tried moving away from the accused (Singh)… Since I was not comfortable with the behaviour of the accused of forcing me, I, in order to escape, (his) clutches, repeatedly resisted his attempts and tried to push him away to which he (threatened): “Zyada smart bann rahi hai kya…aage koi competition nahi khelne kya tune?” (Acting too smart? You don’t want to be considered for tournaments in the future?)
Note: The English transcriptions of complaints are from Indian Express
