Indian police stated on Thursday that they filed sexual harassment fees against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the wrestlers’ federation. 

The Delhi police stated in a press release that “after completion of investigation” they filed a chargesheet “against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.” 

Singh is a strong politician and belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s ruling occasion. He has helmed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) since 2011.

In January, after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced in opposition to him, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) shaped a panel to research them. 

Singh’s steady denial of the accusation

Singh has denied the allegations leveled in opposition to him. When the accusations first surfaced, he instructed the media that if a single allegation was proved proper, “I will hang myself.” 

He claimed that the complaints in opposition to him had been to smear his fame and power him out of the Indian parliament. 

Despite requires him to step down from his place because the WFI president, he has refused to take action. 

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Singh instructed the reporters that whereas a “resignation is no big deal,” if he resigns “it will mean that I have accepted their (wrestlers) allegations.”  

Indian Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur had stated the probe could be accomplished in 4 weeks. But though the inquiry report was prepared in April, the findings weren’t made public.

Vinesh Phogat, a triple Commonwealth Games gold medalist, accused Thakur of “trying to suppress” the case.

Delays, threats and allegations of intimidation

On May 29, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Indian parliament building, the protests led by the wrestlers intensified. 

Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had been detained by the police after they tried to march towards the parliament. Cases had been filed in opposition to them for violating the legislation and order. 

Days later, the wrestlers threatened that they might “immerse” their medals within the holy Ganga river to mark their disappointment within the system.

However, after the tearful wrestlers gathered by the river, an influential chief of the farmers union met the wrestlers and satisfied them to postpone the immersion.

Initially, Singh had been accused of harassment by seven feminine wrestlers, together with a minor. After the assembly with Shah, the Indian Express reported that the minor withdrew her allegations in opposition to the WFI chief. 

When the protests started in January, Vinesh Phogat stated many wrestlers who had been allegedly harassed had been intimidated into not coming ahead.

Modi has been criticized for protecting quiet on the problem.

ns/fb (AFP, Reuters)