In the ongoing sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, the Delhi Police has served notices to the women wrestlers involved, asking them to provide photo, audio, and video evidence to support their allegations. The police issued the notices under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking substantial proof of the alleged misconduct.
Seven women wrestlers, including one minor, have leveled serious accusations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, leading to the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) by the Delhi Police. One of the complainants detailed an incident during an overseas championship in 2018, where she claimed Singh approached her while she was stretching on the mat. According to her statement, he allegedly lifted her t-shirt without consent, touched her inappropriately, and justified his actions as an examination of her breathing.
The news of the Delhi Police’s request for evidence has drawn criticism from various quarters. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal sarcastically remarked that victims of sexual assault must now be prepared to record the assaults they face, highlighting the absurdity of such a demand. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the matter and criticized the notion that crimes are only considered valid when supported by audio-visual evidence.
As the investigation nears its conclusion, the Delhi Police aims to file a chargesheet in the case by the deadline set by the Sports Minister, which is June 15. The request for evidence underscores the importance of substantiating allegations with concrete proof, while also raising concerns about the burden of proof placed on the victims of sexual harassment.
