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Indian police step up sexual harassment probe of wrestling chief

The government has set a June 15 deadline to wrap up the investigation after some top wrestlers made the accusations against Brij Bhushan in January

Published: Thu 8 Jun 2023, 3:03 PM

Updated: Thu 8 Jun 2023, 3:04 PM

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  • Reuters

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Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik address a news conference as they take part in a sit-in protest demanding arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief, who they accuse of sexually harassing female players, in New Delhi, India, on April 24, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik address a news conference as they take part in a sit-in protest demanding arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief, who they accuse of sexually harassing female players, in New Delhi, India, on April 24, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Indian police have questioned more than 155 people in a widening investigation of sexual harassment accusations against the chief of the national wrestling body, a police source with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.

The government has set a June 15 deadline to wrap up the investigation after the accusations made by some top wrestlers in January against the official, who is also a member of parliament from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political party.

The wrestlers camped outdoors in New Delhi for months to protest against a lack of action, but police cleared the site and detained some of the Olympic medallists when they threatened to march on India's new parliament building last month.

"We are recording statements and gathering evidence from everyone directly and indirectly attached with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)," said a New Delhi police official who is overseeing the investigation.

"The aim is to wrap up all sides of the police inquiry this week," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He added that 155 people had been examined as the effort widens.

A police spokesman declined to comment on the figure during a continuing investigation.

A lawyer for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the WFI, said his client was innocent and rejected the accusations. A six-time MP, Singh is set to hold a rally in his northern constituency on Sunday to seek public support.

The protest, and police action against top athletes, shone a spotlight on the government's delay in tackling the complaint against a member of the ruling party.

Police complaints reviewed by Reuters showed seven female athletes, including a minor, detailed harassment by Singh.

At a meeting with the protesting wrestlers on Wednesday, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur promised swift action and efforts to boost safety for female wrestlers, along with fair elections to appoint a new chief of the body.

"It's been a deeply humiliating experience at multiple levels but we will continue our fight if the government fails to provide justice," said protest leader Bajrang Punia, who took the men's 65kg freestyle bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Punia, another Olympic medallist, Sakshi Malik and Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat had to be talked out of plans to dump their medals in a river in protest on May 30.

The Sport and Rights Alliance, a global coalition of non-government bodies that promotes human rights in sport, urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure a transparent, independent and impartial investigation.

"It takes a lot of courage to break the silence and disclose a case of sexual abuse," said Joanna Maranhao, one of its officials.

"We stand with the athletes and encourage the IOC to protect them, especially in this deeply power-imbalanced situation. Their wellbeing should be the top priority."

IOC officials were not immediately available for comment.



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