NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Wednesday pressed a preliminary investigation prior to the filing of a case against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment by top wrestlers.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, told the bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha that if the top court felt that an FIR was to be lodged straight away, it may be done. “We, prima facie feel, that there was a need to conduct a preliminary investigation before the registration of the FIR,” the top law officer said.
Appearing for the wrestlers, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that Delhi Police in complete disregard of the law laid down by the top court failed to register FIRs despite filing complaints which ex-facie disclose the commission of a cognizable offence.
Considering Mehta’s submissions, the bench has asked Delhi police to present its stand by way of an affidavit on Friday.
The statement by the Delhi police came a day after the apex court had sought a response from Delhi police by issuing a notice flagging the allegation ‘serious’.
Meanwhile, elite grapplers who have been protesting for the 4th day at Jantar Mantar alleged threats of dire consequences and inducements of money were being made to the seven women wrestlers who had filed separate complaints to Delhi police against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP from Kaiserganj Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Two-time World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat on Tuesday said that the threats were made to “break the resolve” of the protesting wrestlers, while Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia alleged that Singh’s aides were threatening one of the complainants, who is a minor. He alleged that one of the people who is threatening is a coach who is a Dronacharya-award winner and the other is the secretary of the Haryana Wrestling Association.