NEW DELHI: Shut aides of former Wrestling Federation of India’s president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who’s accused of sexually harassing six ladies wrestlers, allegedly tried to intimidate feminine complainants on a number of events once they deposed earlier than the members of the government-appointed oversight committee, in response to a written criticism.
An electronic mail, despatched to the committee by one of many complainants who was spearheading the protest in opposition to Singh, kinds a part of the Delhi police chargesheet working into 1,600 pages. It alleges that Singh’s males approached the ‘victimised’ wrestlers and tried to create stress on them to retract their statements.
‘Privateness breach when statements had been recorded’
In one of many emails written on February 13, 2023 to the committee, the complainant wrote: “I’m writing to specific my deep concern concerning the privateness breach that came about at JLN stadium on February 9, 2023 whereas statements had been being recorded. As you’re conscious, we had been referred to as to the venue with the reassurance of full privateness and confidentiality. Nevertheless, to our shock, we discovered Brij Bhushan’s favourites Jai Prakash, Mahavir Bishnoi and Dilip roaming across the convention (room) the whole day whereas statements had been being recorded… (it) made the surroundings utterly uncomfortable and unauthentic.”
“We observed they approached the sufferer wrestlers and tried to create stress that is utterly unacceptable. Why had been they roaming the place statements had been being recorded? As per legislation, they need to have by no means been there. It utterly breached our privateness. Who can be accountable if there’s any mishappening with any of us (sic)? We observed that there was one other particular person current whereas the statements had been being recorded, however he was by no means launched to us formally, which fits in opposition to the legal guidelines as solely six committee members are allowed to be current throughout such proceedings,” the criticism mentioned.
“All of those occasions have left us feeling violated and uncomfortable and we strongly consider that such breaches of privateness shouldn’t be tolerated. I request you to take instant motion to make sure that privateness and confidentiality of all future proceedings are maintained and that crucial steps are taken to forestall related incidents from occurring sooner or later,” the mail learn.
The committee was comprised of Mary Kom, additionally chairperson Indian Olympic Affiliation’s (IOA) athletes fee, London Olympics bronze-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, three-time CWG medallist Babita Phogat, former badminton participant Trupti Murgunde and ex-Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) officers Radhica Sreemanand Cdr Rajesh Rajagopalan.
As per the enclosures which kind a part of the chargesheet, it has been learnt that Babita did not concur with the findings of the committee and signed the ultimate report in protest.
“The committee did not fulfill its obligation and the investigation wasn’t carried out in a good and clear method. Aside from calling individuals related to the case, no efforts had been made to ask impartial witnesses to depose earlier than the committee to unearth the reality. The committee by no means requested for bodily proof to corroborate the claims made by the feminine wrestlers. The investigation was nothing however merely a formality. The findings had been inconclusive within the absence of honest and clear investigation. As a substitute, the committee should have strived to take crucial and justified motion in opposition to the accused (Brij Bhushan and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar),” Babita acknowledged.
Amongst different issues, the committee agreed with the depositions made by different witnesses – Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Dahiya, reigning Asian Video games and CWG champion Bajrang Punia and Deepak Punia – concurring that the gamers’ business contracts had been breached by the WFI.
